Newton Rigg chiefs react to news they’ll be grilled by MPs

The operators of Newton Rigg College have reacted to the news that a Government Select Committee of MPs will grill them as part of a probe into the future of land-based education.

It was revealed this afternoon that Education chiefs who decided to close Newton Rigg College will face a grilling from MPs later this month at a Parliamentary inquiry.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Parliamentary Select Committee will investigate the future of land-based education, with the future of Newton Rigg also on the agenda.

Bosses from Askham Bryan, which announced it was closing the land-based education campus near Penrith last year, will be called as witnesses to the committee on Tuesday, March 23 in front of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

Tim Whitaker, chief executive officer and principal, Askham Bryan College, operators of Newton Rigg College, said: “Askham Bryan College has been invited to contribute to an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Parliamentary Select Committee session on March 23, 2021, about national land-based education.

“Whilst this is not an official inquiry into the closure of Newton Rigg, it will be discussed within the session’s broader context of the future of national land-based education and delivery of the Government’s new Environmental Land Management scheme. The College welcomes the opportunity to take part.”