HC Deb 19 June 1952 vol 502 cc1547-9
41. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Minister of Education if she will consider the award of certificates and diplomas to students completing courses of university standard at technical colleges, in technologies for which no degrees exist.

58. Mr. Morley

asked the Minister of Education the reasons which have led her to abandon the recommendation made in Command Paper No. 8357, that a college of technology with power to grant awards should be set up.

Miss Horsbrugh

It is customary for technical colleges to award their own certificates and diplomas to students completing courses for which degrees are not available. National diplomas are also available in some technologies. We do not propose to establish a college of technology with power to grant awards, but I shall be prepared to consider any representations made to me for further action at the national level if this should prove to be needed.

Mr. Johnson

Is the Minister aware that technical teachers everywhere will welcome that statement, because they feel that awards of this kind will enhance the status of many courses which have not got the national standing which we envisage on the lines which the Minister suggests?

42. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Minister of Education when she will be able to declare the Government's policy concerning higher technological education.

Miss Horsbrugh

I would refer the hon Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11th June.

Mr. Johnson

Can the Minister tell us, or would she care to tell us, when she will be able to inform the House which technical college she will elevate to the status of a university college on the lines of the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Miss Horsbrugh

No, I think the hon. Member has not understood quite clearly the statement of my right hon. Friend. I hope shortly—in a few weeks' time—to be able to give some more information about the extra assistance to be given to certain courses in technical colleges.

Mr. Morley

Is the right hon. Lady aware that a White Paper on Higher Technological Education which was issued by the last Government said that no technological university could come into operation for at least six years and that it could grant no degrees for at least 10 years? Can the Minister say when she thinks that the technological college proposed in the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer will come into operation?

Miss Horsbrugh

I do not think it is for me to deal with the suppositions or disappointments of the last Government. I think that any question dealing with the subject to which the hon. Gentleman has referred should be addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr. Morley

On a point of order. May I have your advice and assistance, Mr. Speaker? Last week I put down a Question on this matter to the Minister of Education, and she said that I ought to put it down to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I then put it down to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I was told by him that I must put it down to the Minister of Education. I have asked the Minister of Education the Question, and she refers me to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Can you do anything. Sir, to prevent an insignificant back bencher being tossed like a shuttlecock between the battledores of eminent right hon. Members on the Government Front Bench?

Miss Horsbrugh

May I, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, answer that question? I think the difficulty arises between universities and the colleges. My responsibility is in connection with courses in technical colleges. The hon. Member has also referred to the universities, and Questions to do with them should be put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Technical colleges come under the Ministry of Education.