§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his long-term policy for the management and funding of higher education in England outside the universities.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe consultative document—Higher Education in England outside the Universities: Policy, Funding and Management—issued in July 1981 by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Education and Science invited reactions to two approaches to the future management and funding of higher education in England outside the universities. Since the issue of the document my Department has received over 150 responses. These have demonstrated that there is widespread acceptance of the need for improved co-ordination and rationalisation of the higher education system, but no clear consensus as to the right way to achieve this.
In recognition of this need, and without prejudice to consideration of long-term policy in this area, I have established an interim body, the national advisory body for local authority higher education to advise me on the academic provision in local authority institutions of higher education. The NAB met for the first time on 1 February and is now embarked on an urgent programme of work
I propose to review my policies for the longer term management and funding of higher education institutions outside the universities when we have had an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the NAB. In doing so, I shall take into account all those comments already received together with any further comments offered in the light of experience of the NAB' s activities.