HC Deb 02 May 1963 vol 676 cc1282-3
4 and 5. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education (1) what plans he has for widening the scope of some training colleges so that they may attract ordinary degree students seeking careers in the social services, etc., as well as teaching, on the lines advocated in paragraph 77 of the 8th Report of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers;

(2) what steps he is taking to carry out the recommendation of paragraph 83 of the 8th Report of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers that federal degree-giving institutions should be formed around a regional nucleus of training colleges and colleges of further education.

Sir E. Boyle

The Report to which the bon. Member refers was forwarded to the Committee on Higher Education at the National Advisory Council's request, but my predecessor made it plain that in doing this he was not to be regarded as committed to any particular conclusion in the Report. I am sure it is sensible to await the recommendations of Lord Robbins' Committee before considering alterations of long-term significance either to the scope or to the organisation of the training colleges.

Mr. Boyden

Surely, the answer to Question No. 4 is well within the scope of the Minister's responsibilities. Has he had no consultation with the training colleges to see what can be done? Why does he not try one or two experiments as a preliminary to waiting for the Robbins Report?

Sir E. Boyle

The hon. Member will know that a number of experiments are going on. At the moment, four colleges in the London Institute of Education have four-year courses of combined degree work and teacher training. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will realise that one difficulty in the immediate situation is that to diversify the rôle of training colleges, as suggested in paragraph 77 of the 8th Report, would be to diminish the number of places available to students in training as teachers and, as he knows, the first priority at present is to extend the supply of teachers from the training colleges. I will certainly look at this again, but my own feeling at the moment is that it is right to await the Report of the Robbins Committee.

Mr. Willey

I am sure that the Minister appreciates that there is a very serious crisis in teacher supply. In view of that, would he consider the Government's publishing a White Paper on teacher supply, and providing for a debate in the House?

Sir E. Boyle

That is a rather wider question than that on the Order Paper. We debated teacher supply at some length only recently, but I will certainly consider whether there is any convenient means whereby I can make more information on the subject available to the House.