HC Deb 17 March 1959 vol 602 cc192-3
25. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when a course leading to the diploma of pharmaceutical chemistry will be established in the West of Scotland.

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

The long-term requirements of the West of Scotland for facilities for pharmaceutical education are being considered by the Pharmaceutical Society, the pharmacy schools, and officials of my right hon. Friend's Department. In the meantime, the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow, has agreed to continue the present two-year diploma course for one more course starting in October, 1959.

Miss Herbison

Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that when this course is finished at the College of Science and Technology in Scotland, there will be some institution in the West of Scotland providing this course leading to the diploma? Is he aware that the decision previously taken—that students from Glasgow and the whole of the West of Scotland, an area of country occupied by nearly half the population, should be asked to go to Aberdeen or Edinburgh to take this important course—has caused very much ill-feeling?

Mr. Macpherson

As the hon. Lady knows, all students who were registered with the Pharmaceutical Society after 1st March will, in any case, have to take a three-year course in addition to their preliminary year. There is, therefore, very little difference between that four-year course and a degree course. But I will tell her that the whole question of long-term provision was discussed at a meeting convened by the Pharmaceutical Society last week. We shall certainly watch what happens in regard to the demand for courses, but we think that there will be a preference for a degree course in the West of Scotland.

Miss Herbison

But, surely, the Under-Secretary is aware that, where we have a three-year course and a four-year course in teaching, by far the greater number still take the three-year course. Is he not also aware that what he says is no excuse at all for not having this three-year diploma course available in the West of Scotland?

Mr. Macpherson

The hon. Lady also knows that the three-year course is generally prefaced by a one-year preliminary course, making a four-year course in all. But I can assure her that this matter is under very close consideration.