§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet prepared 249W proposals to change the powers or composition of the governing bodies of polytechnics and colleges of further education; who has been consulted over any such changes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend and the local authority associations are awaiting a report on the powers of maintained college governors by a joint working group of officials from the associations and the Department. There are no plans to review the composition of governing bodies.
The respective functions of the local education authority, the governors, the principal and the academic board of a further education college are determined by the college's articles which are subject to approval by my right hon. Friend. The joint working group was set up to examine, without prejudice, the merits of the associations' case that certain existing college articles could hinder local authorities in the exercise of their statutory, financial and employment obligations. If its report indicates that there is a prima facie case for any changes, all interested parties would be invited to comment before any decision would be taken by my right hon. Friend.