HC Deb 14 February 1978 vol 944 cc227-9
9. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on her policy on correspondence courses.

Mr. Oakes

Well-run correspondence courses can play a useful part in the education system as a whole. The Council for the Accreditation of Correspondence Courses, which receives an annual grant from my Department, plays an important part in encouraging the maintenance and improvement of educational standards.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

Is the Minister aware of the cost-effectiveness of these courses? Is he satisfied that local education authorities are using their full powers under the 1944 Education Act to make discretionary grants to students using these courses?

Mr. Oakes

As the hon. Gentleman has said, local education authorities have these powers. I hope that they will consider applications from students on their merits. But I do not think it would be appropriate for me to offer them any general policy guidance on the matter. They are discretionary awards, and this is a matter for the local education authorities.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Is my hon. Friend aware that Open University fees, which are linked to correspondence courses, are now exorbitantly high? A substantial number of disabled people who could obtain education are being denied the opportunity because of the high charges now being imposed by the Open University. What action will he take about this?

Mr. Oakes

Unfortunately Open University fees, along with other fees, had to be increased because of the economic situation. I am not aware that substantial numbers of people are being turned away for this reason. If my hon. Friend writes to me, I shall look into the matter. There may be some cases where the fee is such that the person concerned cannot afford the course.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Is the Minister aware that many schools find it difficult to cope with gifted children within the ordinary school situation? Will he give consideration to the facilities of the Open University being used by gifted children within the school situation, because often the original secondary school curriculum runs out and these children have nothing to do between finishing the course and going on to university?

Mr. Oakes

I think that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State answered a similar Question only last month. I would point out that the Open University is for post-school studies, not for school studies.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Will my hon. Friend consider the possibility of extending the Open University to lower levels of education so that it can take up correspondence courses to deal with questions of adult literacy? In allocating the fourth television channel, we might think of using it as an educational medium.

Mr. Oakes

My hon. Friend is talking about another matter—open colleges. We are experimenting with this and looking at it. I remind the House that the Question relates to correspondence colleges, which are independent institutions.

Dr. Boyson

Is the Minister aware that one of the problems about discretionary grants in both Labour and Conservative authorities is that money is not being given to people for these correspondence courses? I believe that 5,000 people are doing them. Since these courses are the most cost-effective, when discretionary grants are considered can the question of mandatory grants to certain correspondence courses and the Open University be included?

Mr. Oakes

In the last rate support grant we tried to improve the amount of money available—it was a small amount but nevertheless an increase—for discretionary grants. At this stage, I do not think that there would be any question of extending mandatory grants to correspondence courses.