HC Deb 11 December 1969 vol 793 cc181-2W
Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland where the Scottish forestry education and training centre is to be located.

Mr. Ross

After full consideration of proposals from several education authorities and of views expressed by many interested bodies, including both sides of the industry, I am inviting Inverness Education Authority to make permanent provision for craft level courses, temporary arrangements for which are helpfully being undertaken by Midlothian Education Authority during the current session.

Existing facilities at Inverness Technical College will be used at the outset, but I am asking the Authority to put plans in hand for a new centre at the College. This will be designed specifically for forestry education and training and will be developed in close consultation with the Industry Training Board to meet the needs of this expanding industry in Scotland.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has announced in reply to another Question, supervisory level courses will be provided on a Great Britain basis at the Cumberland and Westmorland College of Agriculture and Forestry.