§ Mr. Batesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1), in view of the social benefit of providing in Great Britain a period of education for young people from Northern Ireland, whether he 335W will encourage the development of educational institutions which have a large number of students from Northern Ireland;
(2) in view of the social benefit obtained by educational visits to this country of young people from Northern Ireland, whether he will seek powers to enable him to encourage such visits.
§ Mr. ArmstrongMy right hon. Friend cannot at present encourage any development of educational institutions involving resources beyond those required for meeting needs already established. Educational visits are a matter primarily for the establishments and authorities concerned. The Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, which is an independent foundation financed jointly by the United Kingdom Education Departments, is always ready to provide expert advice and assistance.
§ Mr. Batesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much information as he has about the numbers of students normally resident in Northern Ireland who are studying in Great Britain and the colleges at which they are studying.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerInformation provided by Department of Education for Northern Ireland shows that in December 1972 the number of students holding full value awards for attendance at institutions in Great Britain was as follows:
Northern Ireland Local Education Authority Awards Universities … 1,848 Colleges of Further Education … 755
Northern Ireland Department of Education Awards Teacher Training … 1,789 Postgraduate Bursaries … 25 Postgraduate Studentships … 123 In addition, Northern Ireland authorities grant a number of lesser value awards for such study while some students may be supported entirely by other, including private, means. Information about individual colleges is not readily available.