§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what stage proposals have reached for polytechnics in the West Midlands area; what colleges they will include; and on what dates they will be inaugurated.
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§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsMy right hon. Friend has invited the local education authorities concerned to submit schemes for Polytechnics formed from the following colleges:
- (i) Lanchester College of Technology, Rugby College of Engineering Technology and Coventry College of Art;
- (ii) Staffordshire College of Technology, North Staffordshire College of Technology and Stoke-on-Trent College of Art;
- (iii) Wolverhampton College of Technology and College of Art; and
- (iv) A Polytechnic in Birmingham taking account of the existing provision for advanced technical education and the work of the College of Commerce and the College of Art and Design.
The schemes are not due to reach my right hon. Friend until 30th September, and I cannot say when designation will take effect in the various cases.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what means and from what sources his Department's proposed polytechnics will be financed.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsBy the local education authorities out of income from local rates, rate support grants, and fees.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure his policy of increasing the size of the public sector in higher education, by the setting up of polytechnics, will maintain parity of esteem with higher education institutions in the autonomous sector.
§ Mr. CroslandHigh esteem is created by high achievement. I have no doubt that the polytechnics will earn it if they develop on the distinctive lines envisaged in the White Paper.