HC Deb 14 November 1989 vol 160 cc213-5W
16. Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the total cost of implementing his policy on city technology colleges.

Mr. MacGregor

Total planned Government expenditure from the announcement of city technology colleges to the end of the financial year 1991–92 is £122.3 million. In addition sponsors have pledged contributions totalling over £43 million.

23. Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the expansion of the city technology college programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

37. Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the contribution of city technology colleges to education in the inner city.

Mrs. Rumbold

It is too early yet to evaluate the impact of CTCs in detail. But it is already clear that they are immensely popular with parents and pupils; and the £43 million which has already been pledged by sponsors represents a great vote of confidence. With three CTCs now open, and eight more with firm opening dates, we are looking very carefully at how the good practices they are pioneering can best be disseminated.

61. Mr. Flannery

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how much(a) public money and (b) private money from industry has been spent on each of the city technology colleges.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott) on 20 October at col.264.

67. Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress so far made in establishing city technology colleges; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that all the first 20 are operational with the least possible delay.

86. Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the future of the city technology colleges programme.

101. Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the present state of the city technology colleges programme.

104. Mr. John Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the development of the city technology college programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

The CTC programme continues to make excellent progress. Three CTCs are now open, only three years after the programme was announced. We have firm starting dates for a further eight colleges, in 1990 and 1991. In addition, other firms and individuals have indicated their commitment to major sponsorship. We shall continue to work with them towards the Government's target of 20 CTCs.

112. Mr. Amos

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to extend the principle of city technology colleges to non-urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

CTCs are focusing on urban areas because it is there that the aspirations and expectations of pupils and parents are, generally, furthest from fulfilment. But our intention is that CTCs should be exemplars for all schools, including those in rural areas, and we shall look carefully at how their good practices can be effectively disseminated.

Mrs. Maureen Hicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the response by parents to prospective city technology colleges in their areas.

Mr. Macgregor

The response has been very good. For example, Kingshurst had over 1,200 inquiries for the 180 places available this year and Nottingham had over 300 applications for 165 places available this year.

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