§ 2. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will consider granting polytechnic status to the Derby College of Technology.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. William van Straubenzee)No, Sir. There are no plans at present to create additional polytechnics beyond the 30 already established or proposed.
§ Mr. RostCould I persuade the Minister to take another look at this as Derby College of Technology already has the staff, facilities and premises to act as a polytechnic and is at present frustrated from carrying out this function, the result of which is that large numbers of students from the Derby area are having to go to Nottingham, Leicester and elsewhere? An area of the size and importance of Derby ought surely to be entitled to have something of polytechnic status.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeNothing in my reply is in any way critical, and it is not critical of the Derby College of Technology. I join with my hon. Friend in the tribute he has paid to the work being done there. He will know that the polytechnic policy does not mean the closing down, for example, of existing advanced courses, and the general strategy behind the polytechnic policy will be adhered to.
§ Mr. Walter JohnsonIs the Minister aware that Derby is already regarded as an important technical centre, because of Rolls-Royce and other industries in the town, and is likely to become even more so in the future with the advent of the advanced passenger train for British Rail? Will the Minister think again on this important question?
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI am always prepared to look at policies generally, but quite clearly, in the foreseeable future, there can be no question of further designations beyond the 30 polytechnics already established or planned. The concentration of new advanced courses, 607 initiated bipartisanly over the years, seems to be making a lot of sense.