§ 10. Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of polytechnic resources are being devoted to research.
§ Mrs. ThatcherComplete information on the research expenditure of polytechnics is not available in the Department. About 4 per cent. of their total expenditure in 1970–71 was for scientific research.
§ Miss FookesDoes my right hon. Friend agree that it would be helpful if there were more information on this matter? Does she also agree that there is a need for a radical reappraisal of the hitherto limited role allocated to research in polytechnics?
§ Mrs. ThatcherOn the whole, polytechnics are meant to be centres of teaching rather than of research, with sufficient research to carry out the teaching function in the best possible way. I cannot give complete figures because of the way that polytechnics are financed. As my hon. Friend knows, Committees of this House have had certain comments to make about them.