§ Mr. Bagierasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the implications for Sunderland polytechnic of the proposals of the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education in relation to the closure of the civil engineering department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenNone. The proposals relating to Sunderland polytechnic form part of a consultative process engaged in by the NAB secretariat with a view to the formulation of draft advice to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for consideration by the NAB board and committee later this year.
The NAB committee has adopted its own internal assumption that the level of funding available will require a reduction in total intakes to public sector higher education in 1987–88. It has instructed the committee to prepare its proposals for consultation with institutions on that basis.
However, the NAB committee will only finalise its advice to the Secretary of State once the level of funding in 1987–88 is determined in the autumn, and may then wish to consider other options. Only then will my right hon. Friend be involved. Decisions on intakes to and financial allocations for individual institutions are matters for my right hon. Friend.
In the meantime, any representations about the NAB secretariat's proposals should be made to the secretariat by 13 June 1986, as requested in the secretariat's covering letter of 4 April 1986.
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§ Mr. WaldenThe figures have been expressed as a percentage of the total number of students in receipt of a mandatory or full-value discretionary award, with the exception of 1983–84, in respect of which information on mandatory awards only is available.