HC Deb 28 April 1969 vol 782 cc913-4
1. Mr. David Howell

asked the Minister for the Civil Service into how many separate units the proposed civil service college will be divided; and where they will be located.

The Paymaster-General (Mrs. Judith Hart)

Three, of which two are to be residential. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 21st November last, one of the latter will be at Sunningdale Park, near Ascot, but I cannot yet make a statement about the other. The third unit will make use of existing non-residential premises in central London.—[Vol. 773, c. 1550–1.]

Mr. Howell

Can the right hon. Lady tell us when she will be able to make a statement about this and can she also say whether it is true that the other part of the unit may be sited in Scotland and Wales? Does she think that it is wise to break up the bits of the college?

Mrs. Hart

No decision has so far been made about the third part. We have to take into account a number of factors. There is no certain truth in the suggestion that the hon. Member has made. As he will know, representations have been made from hon. Members on both sides of the House about the possibilities of Scotland and Wales, but no decision is in sight at the moment.

Mr. Dalyell

Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a very powerful Scottish case in this connection?

Mrs. Hart

Yes. In weighing up all the factors we are anxious to take account of the reasonable possibility of the third residential unit being in some part of the country other than London.

15. Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a further statement on the Civil Service College.

Mrs. Hart

I cannot at present add to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Honiton (Mr. Emery) on 17th March.

Mr. Sheldon

I understand that my right hon. Friend wishes to increase employment opportunities in the regions by siting one or more of the colleges there, but will she also accept that there Es a very considerable advantage in having the colleges at least near London if only to make certain that there will be the necessary interchange of ideas between the colleges and the Civil Service itself?

Mrs. Hart

I think this point is taken full account of in our decision that the residential college shall be near London and the non-residential college in London. I think there is enough room for the third part of the college to be sited outside London without necessarily interfering with the kind of objectives my hon Friend has in mind.