§ 48. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether, in view of the fruitful research and experiment being done into educational television programmes for pupils whose first language is not English on mathematics and English language at the Thompson Institute at Mearnskirk, he will prepare plans, in relation to under-utilised resources in Britain, to present television sets to schools in the Commonwealth and Colonies, where programmse are transmitted.
§ Mr. VosperI agree about the importance of television in education in developing countries. In the Government's view, the best contribution we can make at the present stage to the development of educational television in the developing countries of the Commonwealth is by making good programmes available. My Department is making substantial financial contributions to the Centre for Educational Television Overseas in London which has been set up precisely for this purpose. I believe this kind of help will be more effective at this stage than that which the hon. Member suggests. I am interested in the Thompson Institute at Mearnskirk, but this is a training establishment whose operations have scarcely commenced.