Schools (Government Surplus Equipment)

HC Deb 06 March 1969 vol 779 cc137-8W

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he is taking to make available to schools from surplus Service equipment counters, meters, oscilloscopes, motors and gearboxes;

(2) to what extent project technology is assisting schools to purchase Service surplus ballraces, transistors, gears and similiar components, desirable in the teaching of technical subjects;

(3) whether he will give a progress report on the work of the Inter-Departmental Working Party on Engineering and Technology in encouraging the transfer of obsolete Government equipment to schools.

Miss Bacon

With the support of my Department and the Inter-Departmental Working Party for Publicity on Engineering and Technology, the organisers of the Schools Council Project Technology are continuing their investigation of the possibility of devising a special scheme for the purchase by schools of Government surplus equipment; their conclusions are awaited. Project Technology has purchased and supplied some equipment to schools on an experimental basis.