asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the issues he is taking into consideration when assessing whether a college of higher education should receive polytechnic status.

My right hon. Friend has indicated that he would welcome advice from the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education on the addition of further institutions to the original list designated as polytechnics following publication of the 1966 White Paper "A Plan for Polytechnics and Other Colleges", including the criteria which might govern any such addition.