HC Deb 11 July 1963 vol 680 cc1404-5
27. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a further statement on the position of students taking pre-diploma courses leading to the new Diploma in Art and Design.

17. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Minister of Education what special action he proposes to take to accommodate students who have already spent two years on a pre-diploma course leading to a Diploma in Art and Design.

Sir E. Boyle

Students who have successfully completed a pre-diploma course but have been unable to find places this September in courses leading to the Diploma in Art and Design will be able to proceed to shortened courses leading to the existing Intermediate Certificate and National Diploma in Design. I have now agreed that this special arrangement should no longer be confined to students having the necessary educational qualifications for entry to a Diploma in Art and Design course. I have explained in a letter to the hon. Lady the Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White) why I cannot accept her suggestion that students who have successfully completed a pre-diploma course following one year of the Intermediate course should be exempted from the Intermediate examination.

Mr. Willey

I appreciate the step that the Minister is taking, but will he look at the three questions which arise? First, will he look again at the question of the Intermediate? Secondly, will he consider whether he could clarify the position about students' grants, to make it quite clear that the assurance that he has given to the House will be implemented by the local authorities, within their discretion? Finally, will he see that a survey is made of the general position of art education, in view of the acceptance of the Summerson recommendations? There is a case, notwithstanding the acceptance of these recommendations, for making interim provisional arrangements during the next few years.

Sir E. Boyle

I am glad that we have narrowed the gap during the last week. I will certainly consider the second and third points which the hon. Member has made. As for the first point, about the Intermediate course, there is a real difficulty here. As I explained to the hon. Lady the Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White) in my letter, an Intermediate Certificate awarded without an examination would not only bewithout precedent; I think that it would be continually questioned in the future, and would lead to difficulties in other fields. That is why I was unable to agree to that, but I am glad that we have been able to reach some measure of agreement during the past week.

Mrs. White

We appreciate the difficulties of the Intermediate Certificate. But as it applies to students of only one year, surely the Ministry, in these rather unusual circumstances, could waive the point and make it possible for these students—for one year's entry only—to be recognised?

Sir E. Boyle

I mention these words with some trepidation, in view of recent controversy; but I think that this brings into play the whole question of the requirements for salary purposes of the Burnham Committee. Possibly these are deeper waters than the hon. Lady supposes.