HC Deb 07 March 1977 vol 927 cc381-3W
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in arriving at his decision about moving Dunfermline College, he will take account of the fact that the councillors representing all parties on the Lothian Regional Council and the councillors on the Edinburgh District Council, with the abstention in the case of the latter, have made it clear that they are in favour of Dunfermline College of Physical Education and Craiglockhart College remaining in Edinburgh;

(2) whether, in his consideration of the matter, he will take into consideration the fact that nine of the 10 colleges in Scotland are general purpose colleges and that only Dunfermline College of Physical Education is a specialist college which is purpose-built;

(3) whether he will take into consideration the difference in facilities required for the training of specialist teachers of physical education as primary school teachers in arriving at his decision on the moving of Dunfermline College;

(4) whether he will take into consideration that the percentage ratio of notional to actual teaching places filled ranges from 42 per cent. to 111 per cent.;

(5) if, in arriving at his decision about the moving of Dunfermline College, he will take account of the fact that it is a national Scottish college which draws its students from every region in Scotland and which provides teachers for all constituencies in Scotland;

(6) if he will take account of the disadvantage to women's sport in Scotland, as opposed to men's sport, if he moves Dunfermline College of Physical Education from Edinburgh, which includes Meadowbank and the Royal Commonwealth Swimming Pool within its boundaries.

Mr. McElhone

Yes.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he estimates that to move Dunfermline College of Physical Education will cost more than any other merger or closure or reduction in size of any of the nine general colleges in Scotland.

Mr. McElhone

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 31st January.—[Vol. 925, c.26.]