§ 8. Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has now considered the recommendations contained in the Report of the Select Committee on Education and Science on Student Relations; which of them she proposes to adopt; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 5th November.—[Vol. 805, c.422.]
§ 47. Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why parents of students who have obtained a university place are held to be responsible for their fees and maintenance unless they can obtain a local authority grant, whereas places in public-sector schools are freely available to all students.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe law requires parents to see that their children of compulsory school age receive full-time education and prohibits local education authorities from charging fees for tuition in schools they maintain. Universities have their own independent charters or similar instruments and there are therefore no comparable legal requirements.
§ 51. Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to provide extra finance for the provision of additional student accommodation for higher education.
§ 58. Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for improving facilities for student accommodation.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeWhere a local need for extra student residence exists, my right hon. Friend is prepared, within the limits of resources available, to consider proposals for the inclusion of residential projects in the further education and college of education building programmes. Finance for student residence in universities is a matter for the University Grants Committee.