To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of his policy that universities and polytechnics should enjoy parity of esteem, he will take steps to ensure that they enjoy similar staffing levels.

Levels of staffing are matters for individual universities and polytechnics to decide having regard to the teaching and research they aim to provide and to available resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider allowing polytechnics to be renamed polytechnic universities to underline their parity with universities.

Subject to the passage of the Education Reform Bill, it will fall to my right hon. Friend to reestablish the polytechnics and colleges now maintained by local education authorities under names to be given in a statutory order. He is not persuaded of the merit of the title "polytechnic university".