§ 34 and 35. Mr. M. MacPhersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what organisations, or persons, were officially consulted in connection with extensions to central institutions providing technical education; and what arrangements he has for obtaining advice on such matters from industry and from other sources;
(2) what are the main industrial activities and types of production which recent, current and contemplated extensions to central institutions providing technical education are designed to assist and strengthen.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe governing bodies of central institutions providing technical education include representatives of the leading industries in the regions they serve, and are well able to assess the needs of industry in their area. They also maintain close relations with the professional organisations, and with Regional Advisory Councils for Technical Education which were set up in 1948 to advise education authorities and managers of Central Institutions on the development of technical education.
The extensions completed or under construction will provide additional accommodation for the training of students who intend to enter the civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mining, textile, chemical, pharmaceutical and building industries. The extension contemplated at Paisley Technical College will provide accommodation for the teaching of mechanical and electrical engineering and chemistry. The proposals submitted by the managers of the central institutions for my approval were carefully considered by my expert advisers in the light of a post-war increase of 100 per cent. in the number of full-time students.