§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff training conferences have been planned by her Department for the foreseeable 734W future; what is the planned subject for discussion at each of them; where they are to be held; and what is the estimated cost of each in terms of (a) travelling expenses, (b) accommodation expenses, (c) allowances and salaries paid to participants for their time and (d) salaries and fees paid to lecturers and course organisers.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe staff training programme in my Department is planned year by year. For the remainder of the current training year—that is, up to 31st August 1977—a total of 64 courses is at present planned. These fall into the following categories: background, 9; vocational, 31; management, 24.
The remainder of the information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what considerations has given to the devising of less costly methods of carrying out effective and efficient staff training in her Department; and whether consideration will now be given to the use of printed material and correspondence courses instead of residential conferences.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe cost of staff training arrangement in DES is kept under careful review. Only very limited use is made of residential training courses. Wherever appropriate, self-instructional methods are employed.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff training conferences have been organised by her Department during the past five years; when they were held; and how much each cost in terms of (a) travelling expenses, (b) salaries and allowances paid to participants for their time, (c) accommodation expenses and (d) salaries and fees paid to lecturers and course organisers.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIn each of the last five years, the total number of staff training courses organised by my Department was as follows:
1971–72 … … 99 1972–73 … … 101 1973–74 … … 125 1974–75 … … 190 1975–76 … … 183 The remainder of the information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.