§ 34. Mrs. Whiteasked the Minister of Education how many day training colleges are now in operation; how many 1645 candidates for admission were accepted; how many were refused; and where and when any further day training colleges are to be established.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonFive colleges, to which 574 students were admitted in the present academic year out of about 1,400 candidates interviewed. Three more day colleges in London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle-on-Tyne will open this September and will admit about 225 students. My right hon. Friend regards this expansion of day training as a most important development.
§ Mrs. WhiteWhile agreeing entirely with that last comment, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman is not aware that it is now almost exactly a year ago that we were told of the three additional colleges which are still not opened'? Does not the hon. Gentleman feel that there might have been more speedy action in this matter, particularly to meet the need for short-term mature students' courses for the 1962 year of intermission?
§ Mr. ThompsonThat is one of the objectives of this present expansion programme. It takes time to open and start new colleges, as I think the hon. Lady knows.
§ Mr. G. ThomasDo I understand that the hon. Gentleman said that 500 out of 1,400 interviewed were accepted? Has he any information about what proportion of the remainder of the candidates were ultimately accepted for teaching? Were they lost to the profession?
§ Mr. ThompsonThis information relates to the present academic year and I have no knowledge, therefore, of candidates who were not accepted.