§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds he has instructed the Governors of Dunfermline College not to enter into any contractual undertaking with the lecturers on the matter of redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McElhoneRedundancy arrangements have considerable financial implications, and it would not be appropriate for boards of governors to enter into commitments without the agreement of my right hon. Friend.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he or a Minister from his Department will be able to visit and inspect the facilities at Dundee College, after seeing Dunfermline College and Craiglockhart College, during the period of consultations, over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland;
(2) whether he or a Minister from his Department will be able to visit Craiglockhart College during the period of consultations over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland;
(3) whether he or a Minister from his Department will be able to visit Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Cramond, with its purpose-built facilities, during the period of consultations over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland;
(4) whether he or a Minister from his Department will be able to visit Callendar Park College, during the period of consultations over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland;
(5) whether he or a Minister from his Department will be able to visit Moray House College, after seeing Craiglockhart College, during the period of consultations over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland;
(6) whether he or a Minister from his Department will be able to visit Craigie College, during the period of consultations over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland.
§ Mr. McElhoneMy right hon. Friend's decisions on the future of the 10 colleges 5W of education will be taken after full consideration of all the comments made on the consultation paper. I do not consider that a ministerial visit to any of these colleges would be necessary or appropriate while consultations are proceeding.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any of the four specialists in physical education working for the Civil Service in Scotland will be able to visit and inspect the facilities at Dundee College, after seeing the purpose-built Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Cramond, during the period of consultations over the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland, with a view to reporting fully to him.
§ Mr. McElhoneBoth colleges are visited from time to time by Her Majesty's Inspectors, and my right hon. Friend is aware of the facilities available.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he, or one of the Scottish Office Ministers, will meet representatives from the Educational Institute for Scotland, Association of Lecturers of Colleges in Scotland, and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, as well as other interested parties, on the subject of the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland during the period of consultation.
§ Mr. McElhoneMy right hon. Friend and I met the Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland on 15th February. He is meeting the General Teaching Council for Scotland today and the Joint Committee of Colleges of Education in Scotland on 7th March. I have had meetings with several groups representing colleges of education. Requests for meetings with other bodies are under consideration.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now undertake a feasibility study into his proposals on reorganisation of colleges of education, and into the costs, particularly those associated with the proposed mergers.
§ Mr. McElhoneI have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 3rd February.—[Vol. 925, c.289–90.]
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§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there is more specialist residential accommodation at Dunfermline College of Physical Education at Cramond than in Dundee College.
§ Mr. McElhoneYes.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are 500 places at Dunfermline College of Physical Education at Cramond, and 571 students.
§ Mr. McElhoneYes.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the introduction of co-education at Dunfermline College of Physical Education for Women on its Cramond site; and if, in order to discuss the possibility, he or a Minister from his Department will visit the college and also the physical education wing of Jordan-hill College, Glasgow, where there are male students of physical education and which until 1931 was united with the Dunfermline College.
§ Mr. McElhoneMy right hon. Friend has made it clear that he is willing to consider any reasonable alternatives to the proposals in his consultative paper of 17th January. I do not consider that a ministerial visit to either of these colleges would be necessary or appropriate while consultations are proceeding.