HC Deb 01 March 1962 vol 654 cc1509-10
7. Mr. Fisher

asked the Minister of Education whether he will act upon the recommendation in the Seventh Report of the Oversea Migration Board concerning higher education for the skilled and professional manpower which is now needed in the Commonwealth.

Sir D. Eccles

I have seen this Report, and I agree that the needs of the developing countries for skilled and professional manpower are very great. These requirements are taken into account in our educational planning. Educational institutions in this country train a large number of people from overseas and make a major contribution to meet the needs of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Fisher

As my right hon. Friend acknowledges the real increasing need, especially in the less developed countries of the Commonwealth, for this sort of manpower, will he, especially in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Technical Co-operation, launch a wide-ranging and imaginative drive to ensure that the supply matches up with this demand?

Sir D. Eccles

Both my right hon Friend and I are very well aware of the need, but we have already 55,000 full-time students from overseas in the United Kingdom, 12,000 in universities, 13,000 in technical colleges and 1,400 in teacher-training institutions. This is more than any other country does, but I am not content with it.