§ 19. Mr. Hornbyasked the Minister of Education to what extent he has achieved his aim of providing new day training 1420 colleges in the most heavily populated areas.
§ Sir D. EcclesThere were 17,303, compared with 16,417. This is a record entry, for which the colleges deserve our thanks.
§ Mr. HornbyCan my right hon. Friend yet say whether he thinks the establishment of these day colleges—
§ Mr. Hornby—is producing any entrants to the teaching profession who would not have come in without the establishment of these colleges?
§ Sir D. EcclesI think that that is so, because the day colleges take people who are home-based, and who, perhaps, could not get training unless there was somewhere to do it within range of where they live.
§ 20. Mr. Hornbyasked the Minister of Education how many students were admitted for courses of initial training in all kinds of teacher training colleges this autumn compared with the year before.
§ Sir D. EcclesFive day colleges, including new ones at Swinton in the West Riding, Chorley in Lancashire, and Brentwood in Essex, will be in service by January, 1961.
§ Mr. ChetwyndOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Have we not got these two Answers the wrong way round? The Minister answered Question No. 19 by replying to Question No. 20, and now the process is being reversed.
§ Mr. SpeakerThen we shall get two Questions answered at once, which will be splendid.
§ Sir D. EcclesI apologise. May I, Mr. Speaker, with your permission, be allowed to complete the Answer that I had intended for No. 19—at this season of the year it has gone wrong. There are three other new day colleges—in London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle—planned to open in September, 1961.
§ Mr. ChetwyndPerhaps I may be allowed to ask a supplementary question to Question No. 19. Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many students applied this year for entrance to training colleges but could not get places?
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, not without notice.