§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission on all aspects of education in Scotland including schools, colleges, universities and further education.
§ Mr. William RossNo.
§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the state of Scottish education from the Scottish Schoolmasters Association ; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. William RossThe association has indicated a number of matters which it considers call for inquiry, including truancy and indiscipline, teacher supply, teachers' salaries, the building programme and the availability of statistical information, and has suggested the appointment of a Royal Commission. I have told the association that I am considering the whole field of education in Scotland and that I shall put inquiries in hand as necessary, but that I do not think that a wide-ranging general inquiry is what is called for.
Mrs. WinifredEwing asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amounts of central Government grant are payable in respect of education services in Morayshire and Nairnshire, respectively, during the current financial year ; and what the figure will be in the coming year.
§ Mr. William RossAssistance towards these and other services is provided to76W local authorities through the rate support grant. It is not possible for me to attribute particular amounts of rate support grant to individual services of an authority.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many secondary pupils in Glasgow and Scotland, respectively, were receiving part-time education at the most recent date for which figures are available; what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RossFigures are available from 1965 as follows:
Number of Pupils Glasgow Elsewhere Total for Scotland March 1965 600 Not available — March 1966 481 Not available — March 1967 625 615 1,240 February 1968 327 1,301 1,628 March 1969 886 1,519 2,405 March 1970 417 3,030 3,447 January 1971 715 3,541 4,256 January 1972 — 87 87 January 1973 212 — 212 March 1974 4,649 7,418 (6,963 in Lanarkshire) 12,067 The situation is affected by temporary staff absences, staff shortages and pressure by staff associations. The March 1974 census showed that at the time 94 per cent. of these pupils were losing less than five hours' education per week, and the remaining 6 per cent. over five hours.