§ 38. Sir Gilbert Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to require local education authorities to pay a minimum fee of £4 per head towards the needs of student unions in all colleges of further and higher education.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeMy right hon. Friend would not consider it appropriate to take any steps of this kind while the general question of student union finance is still the subject of consultations with the interested parties.
§ Sir Gilbert Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 360W if she will take steps to enable her to remove the present discrepancy between the provision of union facilities in universities and polytechnics and other colleges of further education.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeMy right hon. Friend announced last year new standards of accommodation for polytechnics and other colleges of further education, including recommended areas for recreational and social use by staffs and students. These new standards are being taken into account in capital allocations starting with the 1973–74 building programme. The wider questions of student union finance are currently under review in consultation with the bodies most closely concerned.