§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether there is any intention to direct students away from Queen's University, Belfast, to the new institution either by limiting student numbers of Queen's or by transferring courses from it to the new institution;
(2) whether, since in his view the new institution for higher education and Queen's University, Belfast, are complementary, he is proposing to take measures to ensure that the new institution will not be allowed to pre-empt natural developments in the courses provided by Queen's University.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Gentleman to the Government's statement, published with the Chilver report, where the Government accepted that new arrangements for co-ordination of higher education in Northern Ireland were necessary. Their purpose will be to ensure that each institution fulfils its own role within an overall framework. The roles of Queen's University, Belfast, and the new institution will receive equal consideration. I cannot anticipate the conclusions while arrangements are still under consideration.