HC Deb 04 May 1976 vol 910 cc1046-7
7. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Seccretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to visit the current year's conferences of teachers in further and higher education.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

My right hon. Friend and I are to visit the conference of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in May.

Mr. Roberts

Will my hon. Friend, during his visits, pay attention to the resolutions pointing out that further and higher education has been particularly hard hit by education cutbacks? Does he agree that higher and further education is essential in terms of social provision and also to provide an appropriate back-up to any type of economic recovery?

Mr. Fowler

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend that a well-developed system of further and higher education is essential on both counts. My hon. Friend will have noted that his attitude and that of our hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) are not exactly the same. There are many sectors of education that would claim that their difficulties are special.