Newbattle Abbey College

HC Deb 21 December 1988 vol 144 c339W

31. Mr. Eadie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has had any recent discussions with the governors about the future of Newbattle Abbey college; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

There have been no meetings since my officials met representatives from the board on 25 January.

In July, following an acknowledgement by the board that radical changes in the college's provision were necessary, my right hon. and learned Friend made clear the basis on which he was prepared to consider continued funding of the college after the end of the present academic year. In particular he would require, by the end of this year, evidence of firm and specific undertakings by education authorities and higher education institutions to make extensive use of Newbattle in support of their wider access activities. No response has yet been received from the governors.