§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he is doing to promote the sharing of university sports facilities with members of the 17–23 age groups who do not go to university.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI am encouraging the maximum use of all recreational facilities for the community in general through the Regional Sports Councils, which have set up Joint Planning and Dual Use Sub-Committees, and good progress is being made. Universities, which control their own sports facilities, have been very ready to co-operate with the Regional Sports Councils over this, subject to appropriate cost-sharing arrangements being made.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he is doing to promote the sharing of university facilities between university students and students and others of the age group, who live in a university city, but are not members of the university.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe wider use of university facilities is primarily for individual institutions to consider, in consultation with local interests. The University Grants Committee has, however, in its Memorandum of General Guidance to universities issued in November, 1967, stressed the desirability of collaboration between universities and other sectors of higher education in the economic use of resources, provided that appropriate cost-sharing arrangements can be made. I welcome developments of this kind.