§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why his Department has disputed the expenditure shortfall of £13.5 million predicted by the Open University for the years 1984 to 1986.
§ Mr. BrookeWhen the Open University made public its expenditure reduction target it was not clear how this had been derived. My right hon. Friend, therefore, requested an explanation from the university. That information is afforded in a document jointly agreed between the Department and the university and a copy has been placed in the Library.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the extent to which course materials have been reduced by the Open University during the last two academic years; and which faculties have been thus affected.
§ Mr. BrookeThe number of full credit equivalent courses available at the Open University in the academic years 1983 and 1984 is given for each faculty:
1983 1984 Arts 16 16 Social Science 17 17 Education 11 11 Mathematics 9 10 Science 13 13 Technology 12 14 U-area (inter-faculty) 4 4 TOTAL 82 85
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of grant is to be allocated to the Open University for 1985.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend will announce the Open University's grant for the academic year 1985 and the indicated grants for 1986 and 1987 shortly.