§ 19. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Education how many full-time first year apprenticeship courses and recognised pre-apprenticeship courses are now being conducted in local colleges; what were the comparable figures a year ago; and what steps he is taking to expand these provisions.
§ Sir E. BoyleFigures for the current session are not available. I am now considering, taking the Industrial Training Bill into account, in what form information can best be collected in future, and whether it should be asked for as part of the Ministry's regular annual statistics. On the last part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 4th July.
§ Mr. PrenticeOn 4th July the Minister was saying that it was up to the local education authorities. Now he is talking about getting statistics. Is it not time that he took more positive steps to expand the number of courses of this sort? Does he not feel that, with the Industrial Training Bill, there is a need for a much larger number of these courses than there is at present?
§ Sir E. BoyleI referred specifically to this matter when winding up the Second Reading debate. Within the limit of the building programme, I would certainly be ready to entertain applications for special buildings for first year integrated courses where there is evidence of a long-term demand.