§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he is giving to the extension of corporate status to polytechnics outside the Inner London education authority.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend is currently considering how higher education establishments might best be encouraged to develop links with local industry and in general be more responsive to the needs of the country. An important aspect of this is enabling those institutions without corporate status legally to engage in appropriate commercial activity; various ways in which this might be achieved are under consideration.