HC Deb 04 July 1984 vol 63 cc306-7
9. Sir John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department is doing to secure the co-operation of the Department of Education and Science in promoting British school technology.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

The Department of Education and Science and the Manpower Services Commission have co-operated with my Department in setting up the programme known as British school technology, and all will be represented on its council of management, which Sir Henry Chilver will chair.

Sir John Farr

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. However, is he aware that in 1980 the DES launched a microelectronics programme for schools, at a cost of £20 million, which was supposed to run for sax years until 1986? As my right hon. Friend's Department has so far apparently been unaware of that DES programme, can he assure us that full co-operation is encouraged?

Mr. Baker

I assure my hon. Friend that we are only too well aware of that programme. Our micros in schools programme is part of it. The object is to try to instil some practical skills in youngsters at school, because we think that that will help them to get jobs in technology industries. We are having some success with computer studies. About 10,000 O-levels were taken in that subject in 1979 and the number had risen to about 44,000 in 1983. That shows an encouraging shift towards more practical training in schools.

Dr. M. S. Miller

Is not the right hon. Gentleman pitting the development of technology in schools, with which I agree, against the development of medical research? By reducing the money spent on various types of research, the Government aim to save money to use in the development of technology.

Mr. Baker

I assure the hon. Gentleman that money spent on research by my Department will be greater this year than it was last year and greater next year than it is this year. We attach considerable importance to it. The aim of these programmes is to instil a more technical, practical vein of educatiion in schools. That is important for our future prosperity when those youngsters get jobs.

Mr. Meadowcroft

If the Minister is encouraged by the co-operation between his Department and the DES., how does he explain the recent Institute of Manpower Studies report, which showed that the number of graduates in computer studies will decline over the next few years from 1,589 to 1,432 and that the number of graduates in microelectronic engineering will decline from 2,129 to 1,887—a reduction of almost 10 per cent. in an area that is crucial to our future development?

Mr. Baker

I am speaking from memory, but I believe that in the next two years the total number of graduates across the whole range of computer science—including electronic engineering and computers—from universities and polytechnics will be greater than ever before.