HC Deb 29 October 1957 vol 575 cc12-3
27. Mr. Malcolm MacPherson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken to enable students from the Commonwealth who are following technical courses at the central institutions to obtain suitable industrial employment during vacations.

Mr. N. Macpherson

Neither my right hon. Friend nor the central institutions have any duty in this respect, and this is always made clear to prospective students, but where students take sandwich courses extending over the autumn and spring terms and are expected to obtain industrial experience during the summer, the central institutions concerned give them every possible assistance in obtaining places with suitable firms.

Mr. MacPherson

Can the Joint Under-Secretary give some indication of what success the central institutions have had in that task? Will he also note that the question does not refer simply to students taking sandwich courses? Nowadays, the taking of training during summer vacations is an ordinary part of an engineering course, whether or not it is on a sandwich basis.

Mr. Macpherson

Of course, the central institutions are not working alone here. There are the Governments of the countries from which the students come, and there is also the British Council. They all work together in this sphere.

Scheme Length Started Completed or estimated date of completion Cost
1. Reconstruction of A.858—
(1) between Callanish and Carloway 7½ miles 1948 1954 £88,600
(2) between Barvas and Shawbost 6 miles
2. Reconstruction of A.859 between Tarbert and Rodel 5 miles 1950 1953 £67,000
3. Reconstruction of A.858 between Shawbost and Carloway 5½ miles 1950 1954 £41,800
4. Reconstruction and resurfacing on A.859 and A.868 at Tarbert pier ¾ mile 1956 1958 £32,000
5. Surfacing of A.859 between Tarbert and Rodel (completion of scheme 2) 5 miles 1956 1957 £21,000
6. Strengthening of six bridges on A.865 in South Uist — 1957 1957 £15,500