§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the senior Physical Education Inspector was consulted over the suitability of facilities at Dundee College for the training of specialist teachers in physical education; and, if so, when;
(2) why the senior Physical Education Inspector was not consulted over the suitability of facilities at Dundee College for the training of specialist teachers in physical education;
(3) if his Assessor to the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education was consulted over the proposed merger with Dundee.
§ Mr. McElhoneIt is not the practice to disclose what consultations have taken place with particular officials.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education applied to him in 1975 to change the name of Dunfermline College of Physical Education to the Scottish College of Movement and Education;
(2) if he will give permission to the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Edinburgh to change its name to the Scottish 384W College of Movement and Education; if so, when, giving reasons for his decision; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McElhoneSuch a change would require amendment of the Teachers (Colleges of Education) (Scotland) Regulations 1967. My Department indicated in April 1976 that the proposal would be considered along with other proposed changes in the Regulations. Further action on this proposal must, however, await my right hon. Friend's decisions on the future pattern of teacher training.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, in arriving at his decision on moving Dunfermline College, he will take account of the fact that the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education has been making proposals to the Scottish Education Department to diversify courses into such fields as health education, movement therapy and sports coaching since 1974–75;
(2) what are his reasons for refusing to allow Dunfermline College of Physical Education to diversify courses into such fields as health education, movement therapy and sports coaching; and what his reasons are in each case.
§ Mr. McElhoneMy right hon. Friend will take account of all relevant factors, including the proposals for these courses, which were formally submitted to my Department in November 1976 and are at present under consideration.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he took when forming his proposals to merge the purpose-built specialist Dunfermline College of Physical Education for Women in Edinburgh of the fact that removing it to Dundee College would, without the expenditure of about £1 million to provide similar specialist facilities at Dundee, greatly limit the opportunities of Scots sportswomen by depriving them of the specialist facilities which are now available as well as depriving them of ready access to Meadow-bank and the Royal Commonwealth swimming pool, thereby disadvantaging women's sport in Scotland.
§ Mr. McElhoneMy right hon. Friend will take account of all the comments 385W made on the Consultative Paper, including the estimate of cost referred to by the hon. Member which has been made by the Dunfermline College of Physical Education.