§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there is any control over the amount of money that polytechnics may spend on advertising their courses; whether any other educational institutions advertise their courses; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Oakes:The polytechnics set their own advertising budgets within overall expenditure limits controlled by the maintaining local education authorities. Most establishments of further education publicise their courses locally or in their region, but, where courses are expected to recruit nationally, the polytechnics and other institutions of higher education often advertise more widely. The majority of polytechnics restrict the advertising of advanced full-time and sandwich courses in the national Press to new courses. Expenditure on advertising courses is a matter for local determination; this will vary according to whether resources at establishments of further education are being fully used.