§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had, and with whom, regarding the coversion of Haberdashers' Aske's school to a city technology college in Lewisham.
§ Mrs. RumboldI have met representatives of the Haberdashers' Company on two occasions to listen to their views on a range of educational topics. In the course of these discussions they touched on their interest in the city technology colleges programme. Since then my officials have given technical advice to representatives of the governing body of the Haberdashers' Aske's schools about the steps which would be necessary to establish a city technology college in the schools' premises.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local businesses have expressed an interest in the establishment of a city technology college in Lewisham.
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§ Mrs. RumboldNo local businesses have yet approached the Department about such a possibility.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the projected capital and revenue expenditure for the conversion of the Haberdashers' Aske's school in Lewisham to a city technology college; how much of this cost will be met by the Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldNo proposal has yet been made to us by the prospective sponsors of a city technology college to be established in the premises of Haberdashers' Aske's school. The details of what such a proposal might cost are not therefore known.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the conversion of already existing schools to city technology colleges.
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§ Mrs. RumboldWe shall give careful consideration to any proposal made to establish a city technology college which has support in industry and commerce and in the local community.