HL Deb 18 November 2004 vol 666 cc200-1WA
Lord Harrison

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they propose to intervene to ensure that university departments of national and regional importance remain available; and whether south-east Asian studies and Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages are examples of departments which are currently under threat of closure; and [HL4826]

Whether they have any plans to intervene in the proposed closure of the department of south-east Asian studies at Durham University. [HL4827]

Lord Filkin

Universities are independent, self-governing bodies, responsible for their own decisions about how best to deploy the funding available to them and about the viability of their courses. The UK HE funding councils monitor overall provision in subject areas, such as east Asian studies and languages that are in the national interest. In addition, HEFCE are currently conducting an evaluation of their programme of support for minority subjects.

The Secretary of State is currently considering with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, whether further action is needed in relation to subjects of strategic importance.