HC Deb 12 July 1960 vol 626 cc1149-50
7. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools in Scotland are equipped with television receivers, film and sound projectors, film only projectors, and film strip projectors, respectively; how many there are of each per school; and to what extent these are used.

Mr. Maclay

These particulars are not available but I shall send the right hon. Member the necessary information as soon as it can be obtained from the schools.

8. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many films are available for educational use in Scottish schools; how many copies of each exist; and to what extent these are used.

Mr. Maclay

The Scottish Central Film Library has for hire 4,531 separate films with between 2 and 24 copies of each, giving a total of 10,917 prints to be precise. Of a total 70,000 reels hired in the year ended 31st March, 1960, about four-fifths went to schools. The Library also assists schools to obtain films from other sources, such as, the Central Office of Information and the British Film Institute.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my correspondence shows that many schools possess merely a token of this apparatus and that in many cases these facilities are not available to teachers? Is he aware that teachers say that they would like them to be available? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question and make these modern facilities available to schools at the earliest possible moment?

Mr. Maclay

On the information available to me, I am rather puzzled by what the right hon. Gentleman has said, but I will examine the matter very carefully.