§ 28. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Kilbrandon Committee on Youth Service in Scotland will issue an interim report.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonNo, Sir. The Standing Consultative Council on Youth Service in Scotland has not been asked to prepare any report. The Council is not a committee of inquiry but a standing body whose functions are to secure the fullest consultation and co-ordination among the statutory authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in youth service, and to promote the development of the service. The results of the Council's work in any particular year will, of course, be reported in the Scottish Education Department's Annual Report.
§ Mr. RankinIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that in Circular No. 436 the Secretary of State says that he will await the conclusion of the labours of this body in order to obtain its advice before he takes any further steps? Something requires to be done immediately about this most important service. Does the Secretary of State intend to adhere to the terms of Circular No. 436 and not listen to my suggestion that we should have some interim conclusion so as to guide local authorities, and so on, in the meantime?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe Kilbrandon Committee is giving continuous advice. It is continually considering various aspects of the youth service, and it has already made a recommendation, which has been accepted, that a one-year training course for full-time youth leaders and organisers should be instituted. We hope that it will be instituted in the autumn. The Committee is also considering the bang-term training of youth leaders. Its main function, as is stated in the circular to which the hon. Gentleman refers, is to consider methods by which
To secure the greatest possible measure of consultation and co-ordination both nationally and locally among the statutory authorities and voluntary organizations …