HC Deb 08 December 1960 vol 631 cc1411-2
3. Mr. Albu

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take to encourage research and teaching in the design of machine tools in colleges for which he has financial responsibility, in accordance with the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee.

Sir D. Eccles

Officers of my Department are meeting representatives of the machine tool industry on this subject tomorrow.

Mr. Albu

When the right hon. Gentleman does so, will he consider asking the representatives of the industry whether they would be prepared to support financially—in other words, to found—departments of machine tool design in some of the colleges of technology?

Sir D. Eccles

There are three colleges already, Birmingham, Loughborough and Salford, which have courses that have a bias toward the machine tool industry. I will bear the hon. Gentleman's point in mind.

Mr. Willey

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the Melman Report will be published and that there is no need for us to learn Italian?

Sir D. Eccles

I shall need notice of that supplementary question.