§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps the Government have taken, following their announcement in the last two years of funding for studentships at the London School of Economics and Sheffield polytechnic, to encourage the development of new housing management courses eligible for similar support.
§ Mr. John PattenFollowing negotiations between the Department, the Institute of Housing, the University of Salford and Salford College of Technology, a new fulltime, two-year, postgraduate course in housing studies will be launched at Salford next autumn. It will meet the necessary professional criteria.
My right hon. Friend intends to provide funding, through the ESRC, for 15 studentships a year for this course. A contribution will also be made towards settingup and development costs.
The studentships will provide for maintenance and fees in the first year and for fees only in the second year, when the students are on placement.
This initiative is particularly welcome because of the close co-operation between the university and the college of technology, which will be reflected in the inauguration of the Salford centre for housing studies by HRH Duke of Edinburgh tomorrow.
We are continuing to discuss the scope for launching further suitable courses with educational institutions in Newcastle, Bristol and Birmingham.