HC Deb 02 August 1956 vol 557 cc203-4W
Mr. Pitman

asked the Minister of Education whether the membership of the small joint committee on teacher training for technological subjects has yet been determined; and if he will give assurances that the technical teacher training colleges will be represented, and that such representatives will not be out-numbered by any representing the other teacher training colleges.

Sir D. Eccles

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Not yet." But I can say that, while the technical teacher training colleges will be represented on the Committee, the other teacher training colleges will not.

Mr. Pitman

asked the Minister of Education what are his plans for the recruitment of teachers and their training in the existing or future technical teacher training colleges, having regard to the fact that, for 1,000 vacancies annually in colleges of further education, no more than some 60 in engineering and some 40 in commerce and the office arts have in fact been annually so trained and taken posts.

Sir D. Eccles

As my hon. Friend knows, I have invited a special committee to advise me on these matters.

Mr. Pitman

asked the Minister of Education how many annual vacancies for the teaching of technical, commercial and office arts subjects in secondary schools will be included in the estimates, and how many of these in the estimates of recruitment and training programmes of the technical teacher training colleges; and what are his plans in regard to grant policy to facilitate the recruitment of adult and experienced candidates, and to provide places in technical teacher training colleges adequate to the needs of both further and secondary education.

Sir D. Eccles

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available, as teachers in secondary schools are not classified by the subjects they teach. The purpose of the technical teacher training colleges is to train teachers for institutions of further education, though a few of the teachers may find posts in secondary schools. I am asking the special committee which I am setting up to advise me generally on these colleges.