HC Deb 15 December 1955 vol 547 cc1362-6
2. Mr. Albu

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a further statement on his plans for the development of technical and higher technological education.

11. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Minister of Education if he will take steps to improve technical education in this country.

27. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Minister of Education what plans he has for increasing the opportunities for technical education in England and Wales.

Sir D. Eccles

I hope soon to make a statement about my plans for improving and expanding the education given in technical colleges in England and Wales.

Mr. Albu

While I congratulate the Minister upon the very strong Council which he has appointed in connection with the new diploma in technology, will he not agree that the time which has elapsed since his original appointment of Lord Hives has been excessive, and that we shall expect a report very soon? Will he say whether the terms of reference of the Council include power to make recommendations for establishing a number of regional colleges, together with the appropriate financial provision which such colleges would require?

Sir D. Eccles

We have taken great care—anyone who knows Lord Hives would know that he would do so—to get the best men on the Council, which will meet for the first time next Monday. With regard to regional colleges, I would ask the hon. Member to await my full statement, where he will find the subject dealt with.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if we are to make good our alarming deficiencies in technological education in this country it is not going to be enough merely to open some more technical colleges; the foundations must be laid in the schools, and it is necessary to see that further opportunities are provided in schools for teaching science by making more attractive provision for science teachers, and by providing schools with better scientific equipment?

Sir D. Eccles

I agree with the hon. Member that it is absolutely necessary to see that students coming forward for technical education are properly prepared.

Mr. de Freitas

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that already there is a shortage of technicians in the aircraft industry which is prejudicing the design and development of aircraft and of engines? Will he do as my hon. Friend has suggested, and tackle that problem as soon as he can in these new schools, because that is the key to the whole matter?

Sir D. Eccles

Yes.

8. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Education what recent approaches have been made to him by persons and organisations interested in the extension and development of technological education and additional technical schools; the nature of his reply; and whether he will give details of the persons and organisations that have made such approaches to him.

Sir D. Eccles

I have recently received deputations from the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions and the Association of Heads of Secondary Technical Schools. I was able to assure them that I was largely in agreement with their views on the developments needed both in technical colleges and in secondary technical schools.

Mr. Lewis

May I take it from that reply that the right hon. Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) has not made any formal approach? Has the Minister read the speech of his right hon. Friend? Are we to take it from that speech and from the Answer to this Question that the backward country Russia has now exceeded this country in technological education, even after four years of Tory rule?

Sir D. Eccles

I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) for his interest in this matter. There is another Question on the Order Paper about technical education in Russia.

13. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Education what further provision is now being made for more technical schools.

Sir D. Eccles

On 30th September last there were forty-one projects for the provision of secondary technical schools and courses under construction and a further sixty-four projects had been approved for starting at a later date.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

To get some new ideas on the subject, would it not be a good thing for the Minister to take a trip to Russia, in view of the progress there in technological education? Having seen something of the drive for technical education in China, may I ask the Minister to go there, too?

Sir D. Eccles

I am always willing to learn something of advantage to this country from anywhere else, but, after all, we have our own system, and I think we shall be able to build it up successfully.

Dame Florence Horsbrugh

Will my right hon. Friend give information, in the OFFICIAL REPORT if he cannot give it now, of the amount of fees charged in Russia for education throughout the child's school life?

Mr. Lewis

And whether they get Income Tax relief.

19. Squadron Leader Cooper

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to increase numbers of qualified teachers to staff new technical schools and colleges completing in 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Sir D. Eccles

For the years in question I am hoping that existing sources of recruitment will be adequate, so long as industry continues to provide us with more part-time teachers.

Squadron Leader Cooper

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that, having regard to our imperative needs, if we are to compete in the nuclear age, the inducements offered to intending teachers are sufficient to encourage them into the profession?

Sir D. Eccles

At the moment the number of applicants for entry to the profession is increasing. I agree, however, that we may need to expand the training facilities for teachers for technical colleges.

20. Squadron Leader Cooper

asked the Minister of Education how many technical schools and colleges are included in the 1955, 1956 and 1957 building programme; and how this compares with 1950, 1951 and 1952.

Sir D. Eccles

The 1957 programme has not yet been settled. The programmes for the three years 1954 to 1956 contain 182 technical colleges and 91 technical school projects at a cost of £22.4 million and £11.6 million, respectively. Comparable figures for the programmes of the three years 1950, 1951 and 1952 are 150 technical college projects costing £14.6 million and 28 technical school projects costing £3.3 million.

Squadron Leader Cooper

Although this would appear to be a very satisfactory increase, which, I have no doubt, will give great pleasure, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that here again the provision that we are making is adequate for our needs?

Sir D. Eccles

No, I do not think that it is, but it is not easy to do at once all that one wants to do.

Mr. Albu

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the first five years after the war the number of graduates in science and technology doubled compared with before the war and the number of higher national certificates in engineering and similar subjects went up by five or six times, and that the rate of increase is now falling off and the number of graduates is actually falling?

Sir D. Eccles

One would expect a sharp expansion after the war years.