§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps the Government have taken, following their announcement in 1985 of funding for studentships at the London School of Economics, to encourage the development of new housing management courses.
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§ Sir George YoungWhen speaking to the annual conference of the Institute of Housing this morning my right hon. Friend was pleased to announce that following negotiations between the Urban Housing Renewal Unit, the Institute of Housing, and Sheffield City polytechnic, a new full-time, two-year postgraduate course in housing management will be launched at Sheffield City polytechnic this autumn. It will meet the necessary professional criteria. My Department will provide funding, through the Economic and Social Research Council for 15 studentships a year for this course, which will, in my view, make a significant contribution to raising standards in public housing management.
The first year will be largely academic in content; most of the second year will be spent working with selected housing authorities and housing associations. The studentships will provide for maintenance and fees in the first year and for fees only in the second year.
I hope to see more courses which are worthy of our support come forward for next year.