§ 42. Mr. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he estimates the two projected Ayrshire technical colleges will be started and completed.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonI understand that Ayrshire Education Authority plans to start these colleges in March, 1961, and to have them completed by March, 1964.
§ Mr. RossIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is four years since we first heard the cry of triumph from the Government benches that these colleges were 1062 to be started? Surely the Secretary of State will try to do something a little better than this? Does it take ten years to build a college?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe hon. Gentleman has followed the matter very carefully and he knows that there was considerable unavoidable delay in the early stages over the acquisition of land. I can assure him that the Government will do everything in their power to assist the education authority to improve upon its estimate.
§ Mr. RossSurely it should take less than three years to settle the question of the land? The original estimates were that the colleges would cost a quarter of a million pounds each. Is it true that as a result of the delays they will cost half a million pounds each?
§ Mr. MacphersonNo, Sir; that is not true. The Kilmarnock college is now estimated to cost £500,000.
§ Mr. MacphersonIt is true that the original estimate was £250,000, but at that time there was very much less experience to indicate the likely cost of building these technical colleges.