§ 19. Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals there are for expanding opportunities for in-service training for teachers.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeMy Department is expanding its own provision for in-service training and is also providing funds to promote greater and more effective use of the resources of universities, colleges and local authorities under the auspices of area training organisations.
§ Mr. CocksI welcome that reply, but I urge the matter on the hon. Gentleman as being the most effective way in which modern advances in educational thought and practice can be rapidly disseminated throughout the profession.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI would not enter into dispute with the hon. Gentleman on this. My answer shows improvement, for example, in relation to the Department's own provision, which is what I am talking about. This represents a 12½ per cent. increase on last year.
§ Mr. Alan WilliamsWill the hon. Gentleman ensure that adequate facilities are available in particular for in-service training for the B.Ed. qualification? Could he give the strongest possible lead to education authorities, advising them to make time available to teachers to attend such courses?
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe Department has given every encouragement over the whole field of in-service training. The previous Government recognised, as we do, that progress in this matter must be made by degrees.