HC Deb 05 December 1957 vol 579 c588
16. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Education how many sandwich courses have been started at technical colleges this year; and how many students have been enrolled at these courses.

Sir E. Boyle

Eleven new sandwich courses, with an enrolment of 89 students, were approved and started at the beginning of 1957. Forty-seven more courses were approved to start this autumn, but I do not yet know how many students have enrolled for them.

Mr. Willey

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply, may I ask him to do his utmost to encourage and promote more of these sandwich courses, which are absolutely necessary in view of the demands being made on technical manpower?

Sir E. Boyle

I am going up to the North-East this evening and I shall be making a speech about it tomorrow.

Mr. M. Stewart

Will the hon. Gentleman be able to say, after an appropriate period of time, how many of the students satisfactorily completed the course? Will it not be important to know that?

Sir E. Boyle

Yes, I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Willey

On a point of order. I have had a reply from the Parliamentary Secretary referring to some extra-Parliamentary activity of his, but I have had no invitation to this activity. It is hardly in order to refer me by way of reply to a statement he is going to make in the future when I shall not have the pleasure of hearing it.

Sir E. Boyle

I will see that the hon. Gentleman receives a copy.