§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take to remove obstacles which, under the provisions of existing local government legislation, prevent maintained polytechnics and colleges from exploiting to the full their expertise and research results and from engaging in commercial activities with industry and commerce.
§ Sir Keith JosephI am today issuing a consultative document, jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, inviting comments from the local authority associations and other interested bodies on the Government's proposals to introduce legislation to overcome such barriers later this year. Copies of the consultative document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.