HC Deb 12 June 1969 vol 784 cc1651-2
20. Mr. Silvester

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the proportion of day-release students whose fees are paid for at the full economic rate by the firms sending them.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

None, Sir. Only nominal fees are charged for part-time day courses of further education; for the most part no fees are charged for students under 18 and some authorities charge none for students under 21. An economic fee is charged for industrial training provided in colleges, but this normally forms part of a full-time course, of which the educational part is normally borne by public funds.

Mr. Silvester

Will the hon. Lady agree that there are a number of courses now under day release which incorporate general studies with an industrial course? Would the charge to the industry not be a useful source of additional income for a part of education which needs rapid expansion?

Mrs. Williams

At present there are 11,000 first-year trainees following integrated courses of education and training entirely within technical colleges. The hon. Gentleman will understand that his suggestion has its appeal to us, but I think he will find that it has much less appeal to industry, as expressed through the views of the Confederation of British Industry.