HC Deb 24 January 1957 vol 563 cc363-5
6. Mr. Willey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he will make a further statement on the proposed college for advanced technology in the North-Eastern Region.

Sir E. Boyle

My noble Friend is not in a position to make a statement until he has received and considered the report on this question which is being prepared by the Northern Advisory Council for Further Education.

Mr. Willey

Will the hon. Member realise that the Council is in a difficult position? It is about time that he went ahead and did something. Everyone in the North-East recognises that this college should be in Sunderland.

Sir E. Boyle

I shall not express any prejudged view on the merits. The Advisory Council has gone to a great deal of trouble to get the relevant facts together, but my noble Friend naturally wants first to study its report.

Mr. Ede

Will the hon. Member accept from me that a good many people on the North-East Coast think that Sunderland is a little too far north for this college?

Sir E. Boyle

I will take note of what the right hon. Gentleman says.

7. Mr. Willey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education which technical colleges in the North-Eastern Region are recognised for the special advanced technology grant of 75 per cent.

Sir E. Boyle

Sunderland Technical College.

Mr. Willey

Does not he the Parliamentary Secretary agree that that supports the implication of my previous supplementary question?

Sir E. Boyle

I am not sure what would be the view of the right hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) on that point.

Mr. Short

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that the obvious choice for this college is the Rutherford College of Technology? Will he also bear in mind that the local authority has agreed to modify the plans of the present stage of that college to meet his requirements if he so wishes? Will he not agree that the 75 per cent. grant has no relevance whatever to the granting of advanced technology status?

Sir E. Boyle

This is a very important point. The questions which have been asked show how important it is that my noble Friend should study the Report before coming to a conclusion.