HC Deb 20 November 1957 vol 578 c380
19. Dr. King

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of recommendation No. 7 of the Willis-Jackson Report, he will now grant exemption from National Service to science and technology graduates entering establishments of further education.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I understand the recommendation in the Willis-Jackson Report will mean that science and engineering graduates with second class honours degrees should be granted indefinite deferment on the same conditions as men with first class honours, that is on taking any employment for which a science or engineering degree is required. I have received a similar proposal from the Federation of British Industries and have referred it to my Technical Personnel Committee for its advice.

Dr. King

While thanking the Minister for that sympathetic Answer, may I ask him to bear in mind that we already exempt science graduates for teaching, some arts graduates for teaching and first-class science honours graduates for teaching in technical institutions, that there is a shortage of science teachers in technical institutions, and that this would be an important contribution to the expansion of technical education?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, that is why I have asked my Technical Personnel Committee, which will be considering this matter in the course of the next week or two, to study this proposal.

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