HC Deb 17 December 1974 vol 883 cc1343-4
13. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with the Ministers of Education of the other member States of the European Community.

Mr. Prentice

I attended a council and conference of Ministers of Education in Luxembourg on 6th June last. The main subjects discussed on that occasion were the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and co-operation in the field of education within the nine member States.

Mr. Blaker

The Secretary of State will recall that among the things which that meeting of the Council of Education Ministers did was to set up a committee to make proposals to the member countries on a wide variety of matters of co-operation in education. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House something about the progress that that committee is making? Is he giving its work his full support?

Mr. Prentice

Yes, Sir, I am certainly giving the work of this committee my support. It has met twice since the Ministers met in June. It is due to have further meetings. I cannot tell the House at present when its deliberations will be complete.

Mr. Edge

Will my right hon. Friend turn his mind to the question of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications within institutions of this country, perhaps with a view to producing a guide to the credit worthiness of different courses and qualifications, so that people can move more easily from one type of educational institution to another?

Mr. Prentice

I think that goes a little wide of the original Question, but if my hon. Friend will write to me setting out his views on the matter I shall consider them carefully.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

Is it a fact that the Secretary of State took it upon himself to speak for Scottish teachers in this matter? Am I wrong in thinking that, perhaps, the right hon. Gentleman was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Scotland? If he was not so accompanied, why did the right hon. Gentleman take upon himself the job of dealing with Scottish teaching qualifications?

Mr. Prentice

At this meeting I represented the British Government and therefore, like any other Minister in such a context, I was representing the people of this country, including those in Scotland.

Mrs. Ewing

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister's answer not totally out of order, in that education in Scotland, with the exception of universities, is normally a matter for the Secretary of State for Scotland?

Mr. Speaker

The content of an answer is not a matter for the Chair.