§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to publish a discussion paper on higher 284W education in Northern Ireland in the 1990s along the lines of the discussion paper Higher Education in the 1990's" published by the Department of Education and Science and the Scottish Education Department.
§ Mr. MasonThe higher education institutions in Northern Ireland are affected by the same demographic trends as their counterparts in Great Britain and the issues raised in the Department of Education and Science/Scottish Education Department discussion paper are, therefore, also relevant in Northern Ireland The Department of Education for Northern Ireland will be keeping in close touch with the Department of Education and Science and the Scottish Education Department about the consultations on their discussion paper and with any policy which emerges for Great Britain. I believe, however, that because of the relatively small number of higher education institutions in Northern Ireland, and the need to take account of the special circumstances of Northern Ireland, including the differing administrative and planning arrangements for higher education, a more formal and detailed review of higher education in Northern Ireland is both possible and desirable.
I have, therefore, decided to initiate an independent review of higher education in Northern Ireland, and to set up a review group with the following terms of reference:
To consider the present provision of higher education in Northern Ireland; to review both the general and the particular needs of the Northern Ireland community in the 1980's and 1990's for higher education (including advanced further education) and to make recommendations.I will be arranging for the chairman and members of the review group to be appointed as soon as possible.