§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the Huddersfield Polytechnic teacher training department, explaining the reason behind the proposal.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe proposal that Huddersfield Polytechnic education department should cease initial teacher training is a consequence of the need to reduce the number of teachers planned for 1981 from 510,000 to an upper limit of between 480,000 and 490,000 resulting in a reduced requirement for teacher training places and the cessation of teacher training at some 30 colleges of education. I made a statement about this matter in this House on 20th March last. —[Vol. 888, c.471–2.]—The reasons for the proposal include the small size of the department and the fact that the poly- 92W technic should find little difficulty in using redundant teacher training places for other purposes. I am awaiting the observations of the local education authority on the proposal before I come to a decision.