Teaching Companies

HC Deb 17 May 1977 vol 932 cc220-1

14. Mr. Nelson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to increase the number of teaching companies.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The Science Research Council and the Department of Industry have already launched five programmes and two more will be announced shortly. At least six universities and polytechnics are preparing further proposals in co-operation with interested companies.

Mr. Nelson

I am grateful for that answer. While one welcomes any encouragement which can be given to these schemes, does not the right hon. Lady feel that the five pilot schemes already undertaken will do little more than pay lip service to the real need for a better understanding among students in higher education of the problems and aspirations of industry? In particular, will she now consider having discussions with and giving encouragement to a wider range of companies than the five which are undertaking the schemes, so that, if the pilot schemes should prove successful at a later stage, teaching companies can be created on a wider scale much more quickly?

Mrs. Williams

I said that two more would be introduced shortly. The present intention is to launch four new programmes each year. Since consultations on the scheme were completed only last year, that is not an unreasonable rate of progress. Obviously, we hope to learn something from the schemes now in practice. In addition to this scheme, there are also Science Research Council awards made jointly with industry and there is the discussion on the industrial scholarship scheme that we have talked about on another occasion.

Mr. Costain

Will the right hon. Lady help the House and tell those such as myself who are ignorant what a teaching company is? Is it a name gimmick or does it really mean something?

Mrs. Williams

I think that the closest parallel would be with something like a teaching hospital. The idea is that, as part of the course of study, a young man or woman at university or at a polytechnic will engage in work at his or her own level within a firm, so that he or she can see in practice how research is applied.

Mr. Loyden

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that, while it is important to develop and encourage engineering in our universities and colleges, we need to maintain the present balance, because the philosophy of the Conservative Party, which is clear from its statement—

Mr. Speaker

Order. It was only last week that the House asked me to see that questions were more relevant. That was a supplementary question on the previous Question, was it not? We are dealing with teaching companies now.

Mr. Loyden

Yes, Sir. The question of teaching companies is still related somewhat to the matter that I am raising, which is that the Secretary of State should take the opportunity to say that the balance in education between the humanities and engineering should be maintained, instead of accepting the philosophy of the party opposite and going in one direction.

Mr. John Ellis

With teaching companies.

Mr. Loyden

With teaching companies.

Mrs. Williams

My hon. Friend's ingenuity is a tribute to his education. The teaching company is concerned with those who are already choosing to study engineering and management. Its purpose is to make their studies much more directed to the real world, which I think is not a point of disagreement between the parties.