HC Deb 30 March 1983 vol 40 cc330-1
6. Mr. O'Neill

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to meet the principals of colleges of education in Scotland to discuss the future of teacher training in Scotland.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for such a meeting. My Department is, however, in constant touch with the principals about all aspects of teacher training.

Mr. O'Neill

What assurances can the Minister give to the principals of Craigie, Dunfermline and Dundee colleges of education that they will not be closed, as each of the colleges recorded costs per student in 1981–82 that were higher than those per student at Hamilton college and Callendar park college, both of which had to be closed for economic reasons?

Mr. Fletcher

The reason for the closure of the colleges was not, as the hon. Gentleman suggests, the unit cost, but that there was, as the hon. Gentleman is fully aware, lessening demand for school teachers. We have no proposals to close the colleges to which he referred.

Mr. Maxton

Will the Minister take into account, when looking at the future of the colleges for further education, the working party that he has set up on primary pre-service training? Will he tell the House that he will appoint a member from the Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland to the committee, as it represents all the lecturers and principals in colleges of education? As they are the people who have to teach these courses, do they not have a right to say how the courses should be set up?

Mr. Fletcher

We believe that the colleges are properly represented on the committee.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

In view of my hon. Friend's reply that there are no proposals to close colleges of education, will he confirm that no further colleges of education will be closed?

Mr. Fletcher

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's words. I said that we had no proposals at present for any colleges closures, but we cannot tell what the position might be in five or 10 years' time.

Mr. Michael Martin

Will the Minister include in the colleges of education, colleges of engineering, and ensure that every support is given to them to ensure that apprenticeships are given and kept up to date with the changes in industry and technology?

Mr. Fletcher

Much change is taking place in the engineering industry and in apprenticeship training, as the hon. Gentleman suggests. These matters are being revised.