§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the proposed closures of colleges at Alnwick, Northumberland, and Furzedown, in south-west London, as well as the proposed mergers of other colleges, notably in Brighton, is being undertaken solely for academic reasons or is a financial cost-cutting exercise.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe reorganisation of which these proposals form part is intended to create an institutional structure to meet as effectively as possible the expected growth in demand for higher education as a whole over the next few years, at a time when the requirement for newly trained teachers is falling rapidly. Where existing colleges of education are to give up initial teacher training, I am concerned that their places should continue in use for other educational purposes.