§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated saving to recurrent public expenditure of the closure of colleges of education; and what is the estimated saving once all projected closures are completed.
§ Mr. OakesThe estimated average net recurrent cost per student in colleges of education in 1975–76 was £1,277—excluding student support costs. My right hon. Friend has not yet decided which further colleges will need to be closed; it is not therefore possible to estimate what savings there might be in recurrent expenditure. The saving will in any case be affected by a number of factors including payments for redundancy and compensation to staff and the possibility of the use of premises for other purposes.
§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list all colleges of education which have closed, or are to be closed, together with their size and the cost to public funds of expenditure on each of them since 1970.
860W
§ Mr. OakesUnder decisions already taken, the following colleges are to close:
College No. of places Alnwick 396 Darlington 450 Middleton St. George 720 Wentworth Castle 300 Sedgley Park 600 Radbrook 146 St. Peter's, Saltley 650 St. Paul's, Rugby 540 Hereford 650 Mary Ward 540 Kesteven 570 Maria Assumpta 465 Coloma 700 Saffron Walden 350 Hockerill 500 Sittingbourne 370 Culham 570 Sarum St. Michael 510 As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 9th November—[Vol. 919, c. 133]—she will come to a final decision about further reductions when she has considered the advice of the advisory committee and any other representations which may be made to her.
The information requested in the last part of the Question is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the colleges of education whose closures are approved have been, or will have to be, sold; how many of those which are now scheduled for closure it is estimated will have to be sold; and what alternative rôles the remainder are to adopt.
§ Mr. OakesThe closure of a college cannot normally be completed within less than four years from the date of decision. Many of the colleges which will need to be closed will not become vacant for other purposes until after 1981. The disposal or alternative use of premises is a matter for the maintaining authority or voluntary providing body and my Department is not concerned unless its assistance is sought.
It is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.
§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is her policy that non-LEA colleges of 861W education should in the event of closure pay back any public money spent on their expansion or development.
§ Mr. OakesGoverning bodies of voluntary colleges receiving capital grants are required to undertake to repay to the Secretary of State such part as she may require if the college is discontinued. My right hon. Friend intends to exercise this requirement in so far as is equitable in all the circumstances unless the premises continue to be used for some other approved educational purpose.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the approximate capital value of the buildings, books and equipment of Culham College of Education; and to what public use these assets will be put when the college ceases to fulfil its present function.
§ Mr. OakesInformation about the valuation of assets is not available. The future use of the assets is a matter for the governors of the college and the trustees of the foundation.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the approximate capital value of the buildings, books and equipment of Wentworth Castle College of Education; and to what public use these assets will be put when the college ceases to fulfil its present function;
(2) what is the present capital value of the buildings, books and equipment of Kesteven (Grantham) College of Education; and to what public use these assets will be put when the college ceases to fulfil its present function;
(3) what is the approximate capital value of the buildings, books and equipment of Alnwick College of Education; and to what public use these assets will be put when the college ceases to fulfil its present function.
§ Mr. OakesInformation about the valuation of the assets of these colleges is not available. Their future use is a matter for the local education authority concerned, subject in the case of Alnwick and Kesteven to the terms of leases on which property is held.