HC Deb 23 May 1946 vol 423 cc511-3
20. Mr. Georg Thomas

asked the Minister of Education on what date she proposes to open the Llandrindod Wells Emergency Training College; and if she is aware that there is a considerable longer delay for Welsh students accepted for training than there is for those accepted for one of the English entrench training colleges.

Miss Wilkinson

I hope that this college will be opened some time in the autumn, but I cannot be more precise until further progress has been made with the work of alterations to the buildings. Candidates wishing to train in Wales, who just missed gaining admission to the first Welsh Emergency Colleges, will probably have longer to wait than English candidates who became available at about the same time, but I seen no reason to believe that, on the average, Welsh candidates will have longer to wait than candidates wishing to train in England.

Mr. Thomas

Is the Minister aware that the Llandrindod Wells Emergency Training College was, first of all, promised to be opened at Christmas, then again at midsummer and, now, in the autumn, and is she further aware of the extreme hardship caused to those people who have been accepted and who find it difficult to get another job while waiting to go in?

Miss Wilkinson

We hope to get these premises finished by the time stated, but there is the shortage of labour and material. With regard to the hardship caused to those waiting to go in, some of them are being offered places in English colleges and, as the hon. Member knows, we are taking certain steps to help those who are kept waiting for a considerable period.

22. Mrs. Leah Manning

asked the Minister of Education whether she will consider doubling the output of emerg- ency-trained teachers by basing on specially selected schools the training of an equal number of ex-Service men and women to those entering emergency colleges.

Miss Wilkinson

The emergency training scheme is designed to provide an intensive course combining practical experience in the schools with personal study, and the students require proper facilities for both teaching practice and study under the guidance of staffs who can concentrate on the special problems of training ex-Service men and women as teachers. I do not think that the arrangements suggested by my hon. Friend could be expected to yield the results desired.

Mrs. Manning

Is my right hon. Friend aware that quite a number of men who are waiting for places in emergency training colleges have now waited so long that they have found jobs which are suitable to them and are giving up their places in such colleges and that we shall lose them to the teaching profession? Further, may I ask the Minister why she thinks that this is not a suitable method for training teachers when the basis of the scheme is regarded as one year college and two years school?

Miss Wilkinson

With regard to the first part of the hon. Lady's question, we keep our figures up to date on that matter and it is only a small proportion who have found work. If they have found work suitable to them, I can only wish them good luck in that work. We have a very large number of applications— far more than we can accommodate. We are trying our best, but we have told people that, in the present circumstances, a wait of several months is inevitable. With regard to the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to my answer.

23. Mrs. Manning

asked the Minister of Education why ex-Servicemen and women over the age of 21 are precluded from taking two and three year training college courses.

Miss Wilkinson

Ex-Servicemen and women over 21 are not precluded from taking two and three year training college courses, but if they wish to obtain special financial assistance for such training under the Further Education and Training Scheme they must satisfy my Department that there is some special reason why the longer course is more appropriate in their case than the intensive course under the Emergency Training Scheme.

Mrs. Manning

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the principals of training colleges can be informed that students whom they have accepted under a misapprehension may have their cases specially examined, because some people who have been accepted are now being turned down?

Miss Wilkinson

I do not think that any principals of training colleges are under a misapprehension on this matter. The point has been made perfectly clear to them in circulars.

26. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the fact that 14,400 men and women who have been accepted as suitable for training, the majority ex-Service personnel, are now awaiting vacancies in emergency training colleges, she will state the action that her Department intends to take in the matter.

Miss Wilkinson

A circular on this subject has just been issued, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Mr. Lindsay

This circular is not yet out, and I would ask my right hon. Friend whether such circulars ought not to be made known to this House and whether she agrees that, even if the number of colleges is doubled, there will still be 10000of these potential teachers without any accommodation for three years and that, at the moment, His Majesty's inspectors are recruiting further personnel from the Forces for the teaching profession?

Miss Wilkinson

I recommend the hon. Member to read the circular first and, then, if he wishes, to put down a Question.