HC Deb 11 May 1976 vol 911 cc137-8W
Mr. Wakeham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which university institutes of education and colleges of education do not provide training in the teaching of European studies; and if he will take steps to encourage such studies.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

Main subject courses in European studies are currently offered by about a dozen establishments,

(2) how many places for degree courses in sociology exist in (a) universities, (b) polytechnics and (c) elsewhere; and what proportion of those places are not being filled.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

Statistics of places in economics and in sociology are not available. The following table gives full-time and sandwich students in the academic year 1974–75, excluding those following courses combining economics or sociology with other subjects:

but subjects such as history, geography, music, art and European languages contribute also. Because of this and changes now taking place in the pattern of institutions and the subjects they offer as the training system contracts, a list of the kind requested would be misleading. There appears to be no evidence of a shortage of specialist teachers of the subject, and present facilities for in-service training are not fully supported.

Mr. Wakeham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will establish a department of Her Majesty's Inspectorate for European studies.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

Her Majesty's Inspectorate is not organised into departments, but there are a number of Her Majesty's inspectors who specialise in European studies.