§ Mr. Duffyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is assisting the University of Sheffield in its recent endeavours to establish university enterprise training partnerships (UETP) under the European Economic Community's COMETT programme. and in particular its attempts within this programme to place Yorkshire and Humberside students into companies and industries in other European Economic Community member states.
§ Mr. WaldenThe Government wish to encourage applications for COMETT funding from United Kingdom higher education institutions and has set up an information centre to assist the relevant interests, a service which is open to all higher education institutions including the university of Sheffield.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on progress made by the COMETT action programme of the European Community in education and training for technology; what grants have been made available from the European 551W Economic Community to stimulate co-operation between universities and enterprises in respect of training in the field of technology; to what extent the university of Sheffield has been assisted by his Department in the development of these schemes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenCOMETT was adopted by the EC Council of Ministers on 24 July 1986. The closing date for the first round of applications is 31 March 1987 and decisions on these are expected in late July. This is the first EC programme to offer specific support for co-operation between higher education institutions and enterprises in training for technology. The Government wish to encourage United Kingdom higher education institutions to apply for EC funding under the COMETT programme. On his question regarding the university of Sheffield I refer the right hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) earlier today.