HC Deb 03 August 1978 vol 955 cc500-3W
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all educational institutions and bodies in Scotland which have made representations to him (a) in support of an inquiry into post-school or tertiary education and (b) in support of the setting up of a tertiary education council in Scotland.

Mr. McElhone

My right hon. Friend circulated in January a consultative paper about the setting up of a council for tertiary education. Of the 59 bodies which commented on the paper and which are listed below, all accepted that a council could fulfil a useful function and 12 supported an inquiry into tertiary education.

  • Aberdeen College of Education*
  • Association of College Registrars and Administrators
  • Association of Directors of Education in Scotland
  • Association of Higher Academic Staff in Colleges of Education in Scotland
  • Association of Principals of Colleges
  • Association of University Teachers (Scotland)
  • Callendar Park College of Education
  • Catholic Education Commission, Scotland*
  • Church of Scotland, Department of Education
  • Committee of Principals and Directors of Central Institutions
  • Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
  • Council for National Academic Awards
  • Council of the Scottish Agricultural Colleges
  • Craigie College of Education
  • Craiglockhart College of Education
  • Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art
  • Dundee College of Education
  • Dunfermline College of Physical Education*
  • East of Scotland College of Agriculture
  • Edinburgh College of Art*
  • Educational Institute of Scotland*
  • Federation of Student Nationalists
  • General Teaching Council for Scotland*
  • Glasgow College of Technology
  • Hamilton College of Education
  • Headteachers' Association of Scotland
  • Joint Committee of Colleges of Education in Scotland
  • Jordanhill College of Education
  • Labour Party, Scottish Council*
  • Leith Nautical College
  • Moray House College of Education
  • National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers
  • National Union of Students (Scotland)*
  • Notre Dame College of Education*
  • Paisley College of Technology
  • Queen Margaret College
  • Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology
  • Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
  • Scottish Business Education Council
  • Scottish College of Textiles
  • Scottish Conservative Party Education Committee*
  • Scottish Further Education Association
  • Scottish Institute of Adult Education
  • Scottish National Party
    • 502
  • Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association
  • Scottish Technical Education Council
  • Scottish Trades Union Congress*
  • Scottish Universities Council on Entrance
  • Scottish Universities Inter-Senate Working Party
  • The Queen's College, Glasgow.
  • Universities Council for Adult Education
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Edinburgh General Council
  • University of Edinburgh Students' Association
  • University of Glasgow General Council
  • University of St. Andrews
  • University of St. Andrews Students Representative Council*
  • University of Stirling
  • University of Strathclyde
*denotes a body which supported an Inquiry into tertiary education.

Mr. Buchan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the establishment of a council for tertiary education in Scotland.

Mr. Millan

I have carefully studied the responses to the consultative paper which I issued earlier this year. The proposal to establish a council for tertiary education has been welcomed on all sides There are some differences of view about the breadth of the remit to be given to the council; in some quarters a preference has been stated for terms of reference focussing particularly on higher education; but the majority of the organisations whom I have consulted would clearly favour a broader remit. It is generally accepted that higher education cannot sensibly be considered in isolation and I have come to the conclusion that the council should have the greatest possible latitude to consider the questions which arise in the field of post-school education as a whole. The council's formal terms of reference will beTo advise the Secretary of State on such questions relating to tertiary education in Scotland as he may remit to the Council, and on such other matters as the Council may consider relevant to the development of non-university tertiary education and its relationship with university education in Scotland.

I shall make a further announcement in due course about the appointment of the chairman and other members of the council; but I propose to appoint a body of about 20 members who will serve in a personal capacity. I shall of course have regard to the balance of interests involved. Since I hope that the universities will take an active part in the work of the council I shall consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, where appropriate, about appointments.