HC Deb 01 July 1965 vol 715 cc793-4
3 and 4. Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the total number of students attending the Bournemouth Municipal College and the number of separate buildings in temporary use for tuition owing to inadequate accommodation in the main college building;

(2) what progress has been made with the proposed re-building of Bournemouth Technical College; when re-building is likely to commence; and by what date it is anticipated that this accommodation will be ready for use.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Anthony Crosland)

There are 6,850 day and evening students at this college. The accommodation on the main site comprises the original premises, as adapted and extended, and eight other buildings. There are also five outlying buildings in use.

An instalment of new buildings, included in the 1963–64 further education major building programme, was unable to proceed because of planning difficulties. The Bournemouth local education authority has decided to rebuild the college on a different site, and it will be for it to submit its new proposal for inclusion in a building programme as soon as its preliminary planning is complete.

Mr. Cordle

Is the Minister satisfied that the existing main site is unsuitable for expansion? Will he consider reinstating the £600,000 grant which was withdrawn? In view of the high rate of students, an ever growing rate in the Bournemouth area, will he consider the application for a university in Bournemouth and thereby decrease the pressure?

Mr. Crosland

I would not like myself to express an opinion about the suitability of the site. That is a matter for the local education authority and I would take its views on that matter. There are no avail-resources for reinstating the £600,000 to which the hon. Gentleman referred. It will now be a matter for the authority to put up plans to us as soon as it has cleared its own mind. I am sorry to say that I cannot hold out any hope to the hon. Gentleman about a university. As he knows, with considerable support on both sides of the House the Government have announced that we do not propose to have any additional universities for about 10 years.