HC Deb 14 March 1957 vol 566 cc1282-5
4. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what are the proposed facilities to enable a great increase, at an accelerated rate, of the training of students who desire and qualify to work their way through the secondary schools, technical schools and finish with graduate standard in science, technology and engineering.

Sir E. Boyle

I cannot in an answer describe all the developments in technical colleges and schools which will contribute to this end. A very large technical college building programme is in hand or approved, and the number of teachers in technical colleges is increasing steadily. The number of pupils obtaining the General Certificate of Education at advanced level in mathematics and physics rose by nearly 50 per cent. between 1952 and 1956, and seems likely to increase still further.

Mr. Ellis Smith

While appreciating that answer, may I ask the Minister to assure us that the question of training engineers is being treated as a matter of supreme urgency?

Sir E. Boyle

The hon. Member may be interested to be reminded that, as part of the five-year plan announced in the White Paper on Technical Education, building projects for technical colleges to the value of well over £40 million have already been approved.

5. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what representations he has received since the White Papers were published on Technical Education, Training in Engineering, & c.; and if he will provide the same facilities as are provided in engineering for plastics and cotton.

Sir E. Boyle

I cannot summarise in an answer the numerous comments on the White Paper on Technical Education which have been received. Courses in plastics and cotton technology are provided in a number of technical colleges, and will be developed as required, in the same way as courses in engineering.

Mr. Ellis Smith

It was the management committee of a professional institute in Manchester which raised this matter with me. It was not informed of this situation. Does the reply which the Minister has made apply nationally? Will he make inquiries to see that the interested people in the Manchester area are as well informed about it as they should be?

Sir E. Boyle

Certainly. I understand that five technical colleges, four of them in Lancashire, provide full-time courses in cotton technology and one in plastics. Many other technical colleges provide part-time and evening courses. This number is admittedly small compared with those in engineering, but only because the demand for specialists in cotton and plastics is smaller than the demand for engineers.

13. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what changes he is proposing to make in the policy announced by the previous Minister for providing increased opportunities for part-time technical education for those engaged in industry.

Sir E. Boyle

None, Sir. The Government's aim is to double the number of part-time day students, as described in the White-Paper on Technical Education issued last February.

18. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what proportion of the 9,000 part-time students now in higher technical education are expected to begin full-time technological courses within the next two years; and what provision he is making in this regard.

Sir E. Boyle

Advanced courses of all kinds produce some 9,500 students annually. The plan in the White Paper on Technical Education, to which we adhere, is to increase this number to 15,000, chiefly by increasing the facilities for full-time and sandwich courses.

Mr. Johnson

Is the Minister aware that his noble Friend said on 15th February that he envisaged 20,000 students in training for advanced work of whom 14,000 would "enjoy the ham in their sandwich" at any given moment. A figure of 14000 from 20,000 leaves 6,000. Since there are 9,000 part-time students and the White Paper says that that number will be doubled, how does the hon. Gentleman explain those figures?

Sir E. Boyle

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me notice of that question. I have not with me the text of that speech, but my noble Friend's speech at Reading outlined the policy to which we adhere.

Mr. Johnson

But can the hon. Gentleman explain a little simple arithmetic?

If the White Paper intends to double the number of students now in part-time higher technological studies—that is to say, double the 9,000, which makes 18,000—why does the Minister envisage 6,000 in part-time training when he had deducted the 14,000 from the 20,000?

Sir E. Boyle

I would like notice of that question. Our aim is to increase the number of students taking advanced courses from 9,500 to 15,000 a year.