§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the siting of polytechnics close to other institutions of higher education and on the developing of polytechnics wherever possible on a single site.
§ Mr. Fowler:The polytechnics are being formed from existing further education colleges substantially engaged in full-time higher education and this governs their initial location. The desirability of siting polytechnics close to other institutions of higher education was hence not one of the factors taken into account in choosing the centres to be developed as polytechnics but it is part of the Government's policy that links should be established between the polytechnics and other institutions of higher education and in many cases polytechnics 228W are being established in towns where such institutions already exist. I recognise the educational and social advantages of establishing a polytechnic on a single site but plans for the development of the polytechnics will need to be decided on an individual basis in the light of all local circumstances, particularly the need to make proper use of existing accommodation.