HC Deb 30 November 1967 vol 755 cc622-4
17. Mr. Willey

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision is made for higher education in technology in the Northern Region.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

Facilities for higher education in technology are provided at the Universities of Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the colleges of technology at Middlesbrough, Newcastle - upon - Tyne and Sunderland, and at certain other technical colleges.

Mr. Willey

I thank my hon. Friend for her reply, but is she aware that of the 17 entirely new universities established since 1960 none has been sited in the Northern Region, and that of the urgent needs of the Northern Region this is probably one of the most urgent—the need for a new technological university?

Mrs. Williams

I recognise the strength of feeling behind my right hon. Friend's supplementary question. I think that there has been considerable expansion in existing universities. In addition, the three proposed establishments at Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland are included in the Appendix to the White Paper on Polytechnics, and these should provide a great deal more higher education facilities.

Dame Irene Ward

Can the hon. Lady tell us what this involves financially, so that we can judge whether we shall get additional technical education in the Northern Region? We might not be getting very much, from what she says. We want to know exactly what it is.

Mrs. Williams

It would help if the hon. Lady were to put down a specific question, but generally it is fair to say that the establishment of polytechnics means an expansion of places in higher education, not least in the technological subjects with which she is concerned.

Sir E. Boyle

Is the hon. Lady aware that while my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) and I appreciated the difficulties about the Robbins suggestion for six new universities by 1973–74, none the less we felt that there was a strong case for one new technological institution in the North-East? Will she assure us that the Government's mind is not completely closed on this matter, even if the time limit must now be put further back?

Mrs. Williams

I appreciate, as does the right hon. Member, that the case for an additional institution in the North-East is a strong one, but he should also appreciate that there is a grave need to build up existing universities to a viable size before reopening the list.