HC Deb 11 February 1987 vol 110 cc298-9
5. Mr. Wallace

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what support he intends to give to maintain the provision of extra-mural studies and adult education classes in the north of Scotland.

Mr. John MacKay

Education authorities are responsible for the provision of education in their areas. In addition, the Scottish Education Department gives grant to a number of voluntary organisations active in community education.

Mr. Wallace

I trust that the Minister does not need any lessons about how valuable is the provision of extra-mural classes, especially in rural parts of Scotland and the islands. Those who administer the system— certainly those in the north of Scotland—feel that withdrawal of the administration grant by the Scottish Office poses a threat to the continuation of those classes. As the Minister has accepted in correspondence with me that a very small amount of money is involved, why are the Government being so mean in withdrawing it?

Mr. MacKay

It is indeed a small amount when compared with university budgets, but the total of £53,000 for the whole of Scotland is significant when compared with the alternative priority on which we think the money should be spent— getting a Scottish version of the PICKUP scheme off the ground to give people in mid career the advantage of retraining in new skills.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Does the Miniser agree that the PICKUP scheme in Engand and Wales has been funded by additional money, whereas in Scotland the money is coming from the same budget? Why will he not do the same as England and ensure that we get extra money for this valuable scheme?

Mr. MacKay

The hon. Gentleman must recall from his time in government that one has to order priorities in some way. When we considered the PICKUP scheme and studied the Scottish Tertiary Education Advisory Committee's report, which said that limited pump priming finance by Government could provide an important stimulus, we decided that it was right to do that and to find the money to enable us to fund a limited project.

Mr. Bruce

Will the Minister acknowledge that the two projects address themselves to different markets and that it is wrong to take away funding for a service that affects small communities throughout the north-east and the north of Scotland and the islands in favour of a scheme that will simply not make the same provision for those people? Will he recognise that, for the small amount of money involved, he is causing grave hardship and indeed outrage among rural communities?

Mr. MacKay

I do not believe for a moment that I am causing hardship or outrage, other than in the mind of the hon. Gentleman. It is fair to point out that my Department pays grant-aid amounting to about £423,000 for the administrative costs of national voluntary organisations that provide educational activities, including encouraging adult participation, in the north of Scotland.

Mr. Tom Clarke

Does the Minister not agree that these problems in the north of Scotland and elsewhere suggest that the Government place a low priority on adult education? Does that not therefore re-emphasise the need for proper funding for the Workers Educational Association? Will the Minister bear that in mind when I meet him to discuss the matter tomorrow morning?

Mr. MacKay

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I shall think about nothing other than the Workers Educational Association and his visit between now and tomorrow morning, but it is fair to say, as I shall point out to him, that the grant to the WEA in 1986–87 came to £184,500, which is a significant amount of money.

Back to