HC Deb 15 March 1963 vol 673 cc213-6W
Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he accepts

Mr. Sharples

The following is the information required, except that for London figures are not available for the years before 1956:

the recommendation of the Pre-Apprenticeship Courses Committee regarding the establishment of courses consisting of one year of pre-apprenticeship followed by one year of full-time first year of apprenticeship training; and what steps he is taking to implement it;

(2) if he will list the local education authority areas in which there is at present no pre-apprenticeship training; and what steps he is taking to reduce this number;

(3) if, in view of the fact that the percentage of entrants into the building trade who had previously had a pre-apprenticeship course dropped from 20 per cent. in 1957–58 to 11 per cent. in 1960–61, he will state the comparable percentage for 1961–62; and what action he is taking to increase this proportion;

(4) if he is aware that the number of boys entering pre-apprenticeship courses in agriculture has dropped from 74 in 1956–57 to 62 in 1960–61; if he will state the figure for 1961–62; and what action he is taking to increase enrolments;

(5) if he is aware that the number of boys enrolled for pre-apprenticeship courses in building has dropped from 537 in 1956–57 to 405 in 1960–61; if he will state the figure for 1961–62; and what action he is taking to increase enrolments;

(6) if he is aware that in the Aberdeen Trades College, the Dundee Trades College, the W. M. Ramsay Technical Institute in Edinburgh, the Burnbank School of Engineering, the Coatbridge Technical College and the Kilmarnock Technical College the number of boys on pre-apprenticeship courses in engineering dropped between 1956–57 and 1960–61; if he will state the figures for 1961–62; and what action he is taking to increase enrolments;

(7) what proportion of entrants into the engineering trade had a pre-apprenticeship training in 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961–62, respectively; and what action he is taking to increase this percentage.

Mr. Noble

The following figures for session 1961–62 represent a substantial increase in the number of enrolments in pre-apprenticeship courses in the subjects referred to, by comparison with the previous year:

Agriculture … 72
Building … 553
Engineering:
Aberdeen Trades College 119
Dundee Trades College 181
W.M. Ramsay Technical Institute, Edinburgh 152
Burnbank School of Engineering 167
Coatbridge Technical College 251
Kilmarnock Technical College 190
Other centres 860
Total engineering 1,920

Percentages of entrants to industry from a pre-apprenticeship course were as follows:

1959–60 1960–61 1961–62
Building 16.4 11.1 13.0
Engineering 38.1 28.9 35.2

The following education authorities do not at present provide pre-apprenticeship courses:

Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll, Banff, Berwick, Bute, Caithness, Clackmannan, Dunbarton, East, Lothian, Kincardine, Kirkcudbright, Moray and Nairn, Orkney, Peebles, Renfrewshire, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Sutherland, West Lothian, Wigtown and Zetland.

Following a review of the arrangements for the provision of full-time pre-apprenticeship courses undertaken by the Scottish Technical Education Consultative Council at my predecessor's request, I received from the Council late last year a report making a number of suggestions for the further development of this type of course. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this report and also of Circular No. 521 of 25th February in which I brought it to the attention of education authorities, endorsed the view that there is considerable scope for the further development of pre-apprenticeship courses, and indicated that proposals by authorities for linking up these courses with first-year apprenticeship courses would be particularly welcomed. This type of course is also within the field of consideration of the Working Party on Linkage between Secondary Education and Further Education, whose report I hope soon to receive.

On support from industry, the Circular referred to the steps that were being taken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour in regard to engineering and construction. I have drawn the Report to the attention of the apprenticeship bodies in Scotland for agriculture and horticulture, baking and hotel and catering work, and have invited their comments on the Committee's recommendation regarding remission of apprenticeship time for successful completion of a course.

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