Chris Mole MP has today heard of a significant increase in the numbers of entrants to higher education amongst the students of Ipswich.

Chris obtained the information from Government Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell MP during questions to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Between 1997 and 2006 there has been an increase of nearly 63% in the numbers of students entering higher education - from 285 in 1997 to 460 in 2006.

Chris also asked the Minister about the success of the Aim Higher programme introduced by the Labour Government to encourage young people who might not have previously considered a place at university to think about the benefits of them doing so.

Chris said:

"This is really positive news for our young people and comes at an exciting period for further and higher education for Ipswich as a whole. I've been particularly encouraged to hear teachers in Ipswich telling pupils about the Aim Higher programme.

"Britain needs to become an innovative, highly-skilled economy if it is going to compete with the tiger economies of China and India and I am pleased to see that young people in our town are clearly acquiring the skills necessary to succeed in the future.

"63% is a huge increase but I want to see even more pupils studying at higher education institutions. initiatives like the new University Campus Suffolk (UCS) are going to be key to this continued success."