§ Mr. Montgomeryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to develop a more effective structure for the funding and management of public sector higher education.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleI have today issued a consultative paper, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and the Vote Office. This paper considers the principles which should govern the development of arrangements for planning and funding higher education in England outside the universities, and gives particular consideration to two possible approaches. The paper constitutes the Government's reply to the central recommendations of the fifth report of the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts of the House and I have already sent a copy to the Chairman of the Committee. The consultative period ends on 30 November 1981 and I shall in due course place before the House my considered proposals.