HC Deb 23 April 1985 vol 77 cc734-5
8. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will convene a conference of organisations concerned with adult and continuing education to discuss the future of this part of the education service.

Sir Keith Joseph

I have no plans to do so. I spoke last week at the annual conference of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education and, during questions, offered to meet some of those present on specific aspects.

Mr. Dormand

Is the Secretary of State aware of the universal dissatisfaction with Government policies of all interested organisations because of the constant cutting of resources in adult continuing education? I challenge the right hon. Gentleman not only to meet the body, which is not fully representative, as he knows, but to meet all representatives to answer the criticisms which some of us receive virtually every week. In particular, in the case of an adult who is capable of taking and wishes to take a university degree, will he say that there will be no obstacles to that adult doing so, not only for his personal fulfilment, but for the good of the country?

Sir Keith Joseph

I share with the hon. Gentleman a great respect for all those who work in adult education. I will gladly meet, as I have offered, various groups from those concerned. But I think that the hon. Gentleman is doing injustice to Government policy. He is probably accepting the figures contained in the White Paper on public expenditure without taking account of the unallocated margin, and he forgets that the Government, to their credit, have four new initiatives in adult education, for which they have provided extra money.

Mr. Squire

As my right hon. Friend takes direct responsibility for adult education, will he apply his considerable intellect to breaking the cycle of poorly educated parents producing poorly education children, and recognise that one of the most effective ways of doing that is through an expansion of the adult education programme?

Sir Keith Joseph

I agree about the importance of breaking that cycle to the extent that that is humanly possible. I also accept that the adult education work done through "Outreach" can do much to help. I respect that, and will try to encourage it.

Mr. Sheerman

The Secretary of State challenged teachers at last week's conference to explain their role in motivating the disadvantaged, but they could tell him that, as professionals, they know how to do that if they are given the resources to carry out the work. Is it not true that this Government do not believe in further and continuing education, as illustrated by the cuts in local authority provision, in extramural departments, and in the Open University, as well as by the savage cuts in aid to the Workers Education Association?

Sir Keith Joseph

I repeat that to the extent that adult education can help to break that cycle, I shall seek to encourage it to do so. The hon. Gentleman's story of cuts is not accurate. The unallocated margin explains that adult education spending by local authorities may not be cut at all.