Polytechnics

HC Deb 08 April 1986 vol 95 cc40-1W

15. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise.

46. Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the National Advisory Body on its 1987–88 planning exercise.

Mr. Walden

The secretariat of the National Advisory Body for public sector higher education has drawn up preliminary plans for the disposition of student numbers in the public sector in 1987–88 which were sent out to institutions for consultation on 4 April. These plans are based on certain assumptions about the resources likely to be available for public sector higher education in 1987–88, which will not be announced until the autumn.

39. Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the recommendations by the National Advisory Body on its 1987–88 planning exercise.

Mr. Walden

My right hon. Friend has received roughly 30 letters from Members and others bearing on the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise since December 1985.

23. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many departments in polytechnics and colleges will close as a result of the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise.

27. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the implications for student numbers of the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise.

Mr. Walden

It is too early to tell what the implications of the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise will be. Its planning to date has been based on certain assumptions about the resources likely to be available for the public sector of higher education in 1987–88 which may well be modified when planned expenditure on local authority higher education and on the voluntary sector is known for certain in the autumn. The National Advisory Body will not submit final recommendations about academic provision in the public sector in 1987–88 to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State until December.

25. Mr. Barron

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to meet the National Union of Students to discuss the recommendations of the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise.

Mr. Walden

No arrangements have been made for a meeting between my right hon. Friend and the National Union of Students about the recommendations arising from the National Advisory Body's 1987–88 planning exercise, which will not be adopted by the National Advisory Body's committee, nor submitted to my right hon. Friend, until December. My right hon. Friend would carefully consider a request for such a meeting were one to be made.