§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what conclusion he has reached on the proposals for the future for the computer board for the universities and research councils, issued for consultation on 15 September 1989; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. MacGregorThe computer board is, like the former University Grants Committee, a non-statutory and strictly advisory body. The consultation proposals were for re-establishment of the board's functions with a new executive character within the Universities Funding Council (UFC); and for the relocation of the board's secretariat from London to Bristol, alongside the two higher education funding councils in 1991.
In the light of responses to the consultation exercise, particularly from the board and the UFC, I now confirm these proposals. Detailed arrangements will now be made to secure the change of status as soon as is practicable and, in any case, by not later than the date of the move to Bristol. As part of these arrangements, lead responsibility for supercomputing matters will, as recommended by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, be transferred to the research councils.
I pay tribute to the achievements of the board to date in relation to not only universities but the wider academic and research community. These proposals recognise that success and, against the background of changes in computing generally and the development of university funding arrangements under the Education Reform Act 1988, pave the way for this to be carried forward into the 1990s.
Capital allocations for grant-maintained schools in 1990–91 All figures are in £000s School Formula allocation Named project Named project allocation Total allocation Audenshaw High School (Tameside) 17.4 Exterior repairs 30 Conversion of CDT room into chemistry laboratory 120 2 new art rooms and ancillary rooms 425 575 592.4 Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (Lanes) 17.4 Replace temporary accommodation 400 Roof repair 138 Renovate science laboratories 85 623 640.4 Bankfield High School (Cheshire) 15.6 Resite and improve technology, art and modern languages accommodation 480 495.6 Baverstock Grant-Maintained School (Birmingham) 18.9 Extractor fan for CDT room 10 Removal of asbestos 15 25 43.9 Beechen Cliff School (Avon) 18.2 Extend and improve the technology unit 210 Repairs to kitchen and dining room 180 390 408.2 Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School London 16.6 Still to bid Castle Hall Grant-Maintained School (Kirklees) 15.3 Removal of asbestos 11 26.3 Claremont High School (Brent) 18.4 Exterior repairs 248 Renovation of laboratories 80 328 346.4 Colyton Grammar School (Devon) 15.6 New technology block 811 826.6