§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the involvement of his Department in promoting or assisting with discussions concerning mergers of polytechnics and universities with special reference to City of London polytechnic and City university and North Staffordshire polytechnic and the University of Keele.
§ Mr. Chris PattenMy right hon. Friend is interested in any proposals for mergers between publicly funded institutions of higher education which promise educational and financial benefits. He stands ready to assist in the discussion of such proposals.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make additional funds available to new institutions arising from the merger of the City of London polytechnic and City university and North Staffordshire polytechnic and the University of Keele.
§ Mr. Chris PattenAny proposed merger of higher education institutions would have to be considered in terms of the educational and financial benefits which it offered. The need for additional funding of a transitional nature to facilitate mergers agreed to be desirable would be a matter for the funding bodies concerned.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on the extension of tenure to academic staff employed in a new university arising from a merger of the City of London polytechnic and City university' and North Staffordshire polytechnic and the University of Keele.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIn any proposed merger of higher education institutions the terms of employment of the academic staff would be considered in the light of the circumstances of the institutions concerned.