§ Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those colleges of education about which a decision has been taken to close, to amalgamate with a polytechnic, or to amalgamate with a university, respectively.
§ Mr. ArmstrongNo decisions have yet been taken to close any colleges of education. The following amalgamations have been formally approved:—
City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne College of Education with Newcastle Polytechnic.Huddersfield College of Education (Technical) with Huddersfield Polytechnic.Sheffield City and Totley-Thornbridge Colleges of Education with Sheffield Polytechnic.Trent Park College of Education (and the New College of Speech and Drama) with Middlesex Polytechnic.Loughborough College of Education with Loughborough University of Technology.
§ Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of colleges of education in England and Wales; and what are the numbers planned to be in operation in the next academic year and in each of the years 1975–76 and 1976–77.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThere are at present 156 colleges of education and seven departments of education in polytechnics. As a result of amalgamations of institutions which have already been formally approved under Circular 7/73, this total number of 163 establishments is expected to fall to 161 in September 1974. The number in subsequent years will depend upon decisions yet to be taken about the future development of the institutions concerned.