Written question asked by Charles Hendry (Conservative) on Wednesday, 23 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 February 2005. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 28 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions she has had with the higher education sector concerning the future take-up of courses in (a) mathematics and (b) scientific disciplines; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with the higher education sector concerning the future take- up of courses in (a) mathematics and (b) scientific disciplines; and if she will make a statement. [218881] Dr. Howells: As Minister for Higher Education I regularly meet representatives of the sector to discuss this issue. The Government are committed to increasing the number of students taking up higher education courses in mathematics and scientific disciplines. The 10-year science and innovation investment framework, published jointly by Treasury, the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Education and Skills last July, sets out a range of new measures to address the problem. These cover all phases of education from schools through to higher education. In addition, the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills wrote to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) at the beginning of December asking their advice on what types of action should be considered to strengthen and secure subjects of strategic national importance, including mathematics and science.

Secondary information