§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much importance he attaches to church foundations in the provision of initial teacher training.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend recognises the important contribution which denominational colleges have made to the provision of initial teacher training. As he has previously made clear, however, he cannot commit himself to the maintenance of a particular level of training places for such colleges, any more than he can for other teacher training institutions.
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take action to ensure that initial teacher education continues to be provided in Plymouth, in view of the recommendations made by the secretariat of the national advisory board for public sector higher education.
§ Mr. DunnProposals for the distribution of intakes to initial teacher training between public sector institutions in England are being considered by the national advisory body for public sector higher education. I cannot anticipate what advice the NAB will submit but I can assure my hon. Friend that in reaching decisions my right hon. Friend will give careful consideration to the representations that have been made to him concerning the future location of initial teacher training.