§ 28. Mr. Brewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made towards meeting the target of an additional 250,000 young people obtaining day release from employment for further education by 1969–70, as recommended by the Henniker Heaton Committee.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsBetween 1964 and 1965 the percentage of young people receiving day release rose from 31 per cent. to 32.5 per cent. for boys and from 7.3 per cent. to 7.6 per cent. for girls, but the age group was smaller and the actual numbers fell slightly from 276,000 to 269,000.
§ Mr. BrewisDoes not the hon. Member find these figures rather disappointing? What measure does he propose to increase the numbers taking advantage of day release?
§ Mr. RobertsThe percentages are more significant than the numbers, for three reasons—first, the fluctuations in the size of the age group; secondly, the increasing proportion of young people staying on for full-time education in schools or further education institutions, and, thirdly, because the full impact of the Industrial Training Act is still to be experienced in this field.
§ Mr. HamlingIs my hon. Friend aware that progress under this Government has been a darned sight quicker than it ever was under that lot?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have not called the right hon. and learned Gentleman. Mr. Hogg.
§ Mr. HoggI am obliged to you, Mr. Speaker. Is not the hon. Member being grossly complacent about this? The target set by the Henniker Heaton Committee was not expressed as a proportion but 1881 in absolute numbers. It looks as if we are going backwards and not forwards.
§ Mr. RobertsI have said that the percentage shows a small but significant advance. Further, the Henniker Heaton Committee itself said that the industrial training boards would make the major contribution to advance in this field of education.