House of Commons Hansard Debates for 9 Dec 1988

Written Answers to Questions

Friday 9 December 1988

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

Physics and Chemistry

Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on rationalisation plans for physics and chemistry teaching and research in universities.

Mr. Jackson : Reports setting out the proposed principles for rationalisation of provision were issued by the University Grants Committee to the universities for consultation on 27 October. The committee and its successor, the Universities Funding Council, will consider future provision for physics and chemistry in the light of the reports and the comments received.

Female Teachers (Leaflet 873 PEN)

Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received following the issue of leaflet 873 PEN to female teachers ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend has received 58 letters from hon. Members and about 500 from individual teachers. So far, there have been 400 elections to cover previous years which will count towards a widower's pension.

Cox Report

Mr. Haynes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what time was allowed for consultation on the Cox report on English ; from whom he is seeking comments ; and when he expects to announce decisions on the report.

Mrs. Rumbold : The National Curriculum Council (NCC) is conducting statutory consultations on my right hon. Friends' proposals for English in the national curriculum for pupils aged 5 to 11. Those proposals are based on the recommendations in the first report of the national curriculum English working group, chaired by Professor Brian Cox. Consultations began on 15 November and the NCC has asked for replies by 27 January 1989. It has consulted formally those bodies which it is obliged to consult under section 20 of the Education Reform Act 1988 and a number of others of its choosing.

Student Unions

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's review of student unions ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) when he expects to announce the results of his Department's review of student unions ; and if he will make a statement.

Column 342

Mr. Jackson : My Department is now analysing the returns to its questionnaire on student unions. It will need a few weeks to tabulate and summarise the data. Thereafter, the Government will reach conclusions on the best action to take and will consult all those concerned about these conclusions. I cannot at present predict how long this will take.

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the returned questionnaires for his Department's review of student unions (a) supported and (b) opposed automatic membership of student unions.

Mr. Jackson : Respondents were not asked to comment on this issue and hardly any did so.

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what (a) organisations, (b) individuals, (c) institutions of higher and further education and (d) student unions will receive the results of his Department's review of student unions ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 31 October at column 471.

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of his Department's review of student unions ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend expects in due course to place in the Library a copy of the Government's conclusions in whatever form they are made available for consultation.

Research Centres

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of university and

interdisciplinary research centres that have already been founded and those in the planning stages, together with the subjects investigated and the geographical locations and the funding for each.

Mr. Jackson : As regards the initiative by the advisory board for the research councils for the establishment of interdisciplinary research centres, commitments have already been made for the following centres :