§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is now able to make a statement about the transfer of the University of Wales Institute 625W of Science and Technology to a new site at Llantarnam.
§ Mr. MulleyIt has always been understood that the transfer of the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology was dependent on finding a place in the university building programme to meet the considerable cost of putting up and equipping new buildings on the site at Llantarnam acquired by the local authority for this purpose. I think it right that the university, the institute and the Gwent County Council should know now of my conclusion that there is no likelihood of finding a place in the programme for this project in the foreseeable future. This is due to the severe restrictions on public expenditure over the next few years on university buildings, and a reduced assessment of demand for places in higher education since the original announcement was made. It would not therefore be reasonable to expect the University Grants Committee to commit a significant sum to an improvement project of this kind from its limited resources. I am inviting the University Grants Committee to discuss with the institute alternative solutions to its accommodation problem.