§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made during the last five years in encouraging non-technical adult education financially and otherwise, both in State institutions and in accredited voluntary educational centres; and to what extent the number of classes and of enrolled students has increased.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, between the financial years 1965/66 and 1969/70, total grants made by the Department of Education and Science to university extramural departments and the districts of the Workers' Educational Association, to independent long-term residential colleges and to other voluntary national associations, rose from approximately £1.1 million to £1.6 million. Details of expenditure by local education authorities are not available. Between the academic years 1964/65 and 1968/69 students enrolled in local authority classes rose from 1.13 million to 1.39 million and in local authority residential colleges from 58,000 to 61,000; in classes run by extramural departments and W.E.A. districts from 219,000 to 248,000; and in the independent residential colleges from 390 to 425. The number of courses run by the extramural departments, W.E.A. districts and local authority residential colleges increased from about 11,500 to about 13,400.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that exhaustive reply, may I ask her whether particular attention has been given to what 220 I call the voluntary adult education centres, which are of tremendous importance, apart from the other fine work being done in other institutions?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSYes, my Lords, I can assure my noble friend that this is so. He will no doubt also know that a Committee has been set up, under the chairmanship of Sir Lionel Russell, to look into the whole field of adult education.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, would not my noble friend agree that education should always have a purpose and that this differentiation between technical and non-technical education is highly undesirable?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, if my noble friend were asking me personally whether there were too many labels in society generally today, I would say, Yes—and education is no exception. As to education having a purpose, of course it must have a purpose; but that is not necessarily to earn a living, but for living.
§ LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEYMy Lords, would the Minister agree that it would help adult education if there were more uniformity in granting awards to mature students at adult residential courses? Further, may I ask whether the Department will give further advice to local education authorities on this matter?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I think the noble Lord will know that the Department have always been rather opposed to giving mandatory advice. In this connection, I would not entirely agree that uniformity is necessary, though I agree that some authorities are more forthcoming than others.
§ LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that her right honourable friend in another place said that there was considerable discrepancy; that this was to be deplored, and that the Department would consider giving more advice?
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, in view of the magnificent opportunities outlined by the noble Baroness, will Her Majesty's Government tell the chancellors of universities that students will suffer no hardship if they are sent down for playing the fool, as they have this adequate alternative educational system?