§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what guidance he has given to colleges running NNEB courses regarding their intake of students in view of the cutback in the nursery education expansion programme;
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the number of students admitted to NNEB courses is matched to the requirement of the education service to avoid waste both of human and financial resources.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend has not given any guidance, nor is it necessary for him to do so. It is for individual colleges and their maintaining authorities to decide on the level of annual intake appropriate to meet the local needs of the education, health and social services and private employers. Local education authorities collectively employ about one-third of newly trained NNEB certificate holders each year and the demand of the education service for those so qualified is expected to remain at approximately this level.
§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how 404W those who have graduated in Scotland for the Open University, giving a breakdown into those who had not previously undertaken post-school education, those holding a diploma and those holding a first degree.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThe number of students in Scotland who have so qualified for the Open University's B.A. degree is as follows:
1972 58 1973 251 1974 376 1975 413 Total 1,098 Information is available in the form requested only for the year 1975. The figures are:
many students are currently engaged on the NNEB course and expected to complete the course in summer 1976 (a) in England and (b) in Wales; and how many nursery assistant posts are estimated to be open to them in the autumn.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerAn estimated 4,350 students in England/Wales are expected successfully to complete NNEB courses this summer. Separate figures for Wales are not available. My Department does not make estimates of vacancies.