§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is able to give a forecast in respect of a building programme for the Preston Polytechnic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThe local education authority is planning substantial additions to Preston Polytechnic but I cannot yet estimate when it will be possible for building work to start.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make a statement in regard to the role presently being pursued by polytechnics in the further education/higher education sector and the perspectives originally contemplated for these institutions as broadly based adult education establishments.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerA further statement at the present time would not be helpful. The polytechnics are in general developing on the lines laid down in the 1966 White Paper (Cmnd. 3006), but I propose to keep their progress under review.