HC Deb 26 March 1957 vol 567 cc942-3
4. Mr. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve the facilities in Scottish schools for scientific education.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Niall Macpherson)

Much has already been done to improve facilities. Provision is being made in the 1957–58 and 1958–59 building programmes for the improvement of substandard laboratories.

Mr. Fletcher

Is the hon. Member aware that a great many non-Scottish Members are very conscious of the great contributions made by Scotland to education in the past and are hoping that Scotland will make a major contribution towards meeting the challenge that lies before us, of vastly increasing our numbers of scientists and technologists in the near future?

Mr. Macpherson

I am grateful to the hon. Member for his tribute to Scotland's past contribution. I can assure him that it will be our endeavour to maintain that contribution in future, particularly upon the scientific and technological side.