HC Deb 25 January 1983 vol 35 cc774-5
7. Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will pay an official visit to Kilburn polytechnic.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. William Waldegrave)

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any plans at present to visit Kilburn polytechnic.

Mr. Eggar

My hon. Friend will be missing a great deal if he does not visit the polytechnic. Will he confirm that the lecturers at Hendon Police college are employed by Kilburn polytechnic? Is he aware that, as a result of the unreasonable and unprofessional conduct of a lecturer at Hendon Police college, Brent council is threatening to withdraw all lecturers from the college? Can he further confirm that there is no longer any justification for a link between Kilburn polytechnic and Hendon Police college?

Mr. Waldegrave

I am aware of the dispute surrounding the teachers at Hendon Police college, and I confirm that the present arrangements are a matter of history. There is nothing to prevent either party from proposing new arrangements.

Mr. Freeson

I am sure the Minister is aware, and will he remind the hon. Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar), that as a matter of courtesy, and in accordance with the convention of the House, when hon. Members wish to pursue matters involving another hon. Member's constituency, they have the grace to contact that hon. Member? Kilburn polytechnic is in the constituency of Brent, East.

The Minister or the Secretary of State would be very welcome at Kilburn polytechnic so that we might discuss a possible increase in the allocation of expenditure to expand the provision of that college, which the local education authority wishes to undertake and which I wish to back. Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to make such a visit and to open discussions to enlarge the resources, and let Brent get on with the job of negotiating a peaceful and satisfactory settlement of the matter referred to by the hon. Member for Enfield, North?

Mr. Waldegrave

The hon. Gentleman's first point is not for me. If the college or the local authority were to invite me, I should of course be happy to try to visit the polytechnic.

Mr. Christopher Price

Does the Minister agree that it must be a matter of concern to the House and to the community if several police cadets are found to have the racist attitudes that were displayed in the essays that led to the difficulties between the Police college and Kilburn polytechnic? Does he agree that no college should tailor its curriculum just because an organisation such as a Police college finds it unsatisfactory?

Mr. Waldegrave

The origins of the essays are also disputed. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree that there is some anxiety about the release of information from examination papers without the permission of the college or the students.