§ 16. Mr. McNallyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what alternative proposals were put forward by the Roman Catholic authorities concerning initial teacher training prior to his final decision to close such courses at De La Salle college, Manchester.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Roman Catholic authorities did not put forward alternative proposals, other than to argue in favour of the retention of all seven of their colleges and the redistribution of an increased number of students among them.
§ Mr. McNallyDoes not the Minister think, on reflection, that if he had not handled the decision to close the De La Salle college in such a high-handed and cavalier manner he would not have received such a reaction across the denominations in the north-west and in early-day motions in the House? Does he accept that it is a mark of the failure of his Department that the managers of the college have now taken recourse to legal action, which I understand they will be pursuing this afternoon? They are taking legal action against the Department because of its mishandling of the closure.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI hope that the delegations which saw me, and which discussed the issues involved with great courtesy, do not regard their reception as highhanded. It would be astonishing if any college welcomed its own closure. One of the sad features of the present situation is that we have to seek the closure of some colleges.