Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the recent trends in the number of university applications from students from disadvantaged or minority ethnic backgrounds.

The latest figures published by UCAS for the 2014 application cycle show that, as at the main UCAS deadline of 15 January, the application rate for young people from the most disadvantaged areas in England had risen to the highest ever level (20.7%). The detailed figures can be found at http://www.ucas.com/news-events/news/2014/2014-cycle-applicant-figures-january-deadline-2014

The latest data on ethnic background show that application rates for all ethnic groups rose in 2014, reaching new highs for most groups. The figures can be found at http://www.ucas.com/data-analysis/analysis-notes