HL Deb 03 March 1970 vol 308 cc222-3
LORD O'HAGAN

My 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 whether, in view of the implied criticism of the Department of Education and Science in The Problems of Coloured School-leavers (Cmnd. 4268), they will take steps to ensure that the scope, depth and number of courses appropriate to a multiracial society, in colleges of education, will be increased.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, responsibility for courses at colleges of education rests with their academic boards and with the area training organisations. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has expressed the Government's agreement with the view of the Select Committee on Race Relations that every college should teach its students something about race relations and the problems of immigrants. The evidence to which I referred in my Written Answer to the noble Lord on January 29 shows that the response in the colleges to the need he mentions has grown rapidly: it is still growing. My right honourable friend has recently written to all area training organisations asking them to review the content and structure of the courses they supervise and has drawn attention in this context to the specific problem of teaching immigrant children.

LORD O'HAGAN

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether she is aware that "something about race relations" is not enough? Is she aware that the next generation will really decide whether this country is truly multiracial, and will she give an assurance that the teachers' part in achieving such a state will get high priority from central Government.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

I accept at once my noble friend's point that race relationships are of high priority, but as a product of a college of education I would point out that there are other matters which are of equally high priority. Colleges of education give attention to the training of teachers to deal with a child not only in one narrow context but as a complete human being.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, would my noble friend not agree that unless the Department of Education and Science give some clear lead in this matter, it is improbable that the various colleges will do anything serious?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I would say that the Department are giving a clear lead. I said that my right honourable friend has written to all area training organisations. I would remind my noble friend that in the end the training colleges are not the direct responsibility of the Department, which must act through the area organisations.

THE LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH

My Lord, does not the noble Baroness think that one of the most immediately helpful initiatives would be, as recommended in the White Paper, to provide more courses not only for students in training colleges but also for teachers in service, on the mixed race problems which they encounter?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I understand that this is already being done and that it will be done in increasing numbers.