§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the light of his parliamentary replies, if it is his policy to dispense with feasibility studies when public expenditure cuts are applied to teacher training colleges in Scotland; an if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McElhoneI would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 3rd February.—[Vol. 925, c. 289–90.]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Dundee College is both the most expensive in terms of each unit cost, as well as 449W the most underoccupied, of all the 10 colleges of teacher training in Scotland.
§ Mr. McElhoneYes.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his proposals relating to teacher training colleges in Scotland are implemented, how many employees at Craiglockhart College and at Dunfermline College of Physical Education will become unemployed.
§ Mr. McElhoneIt would be premature to make any estimate, since this would depend on a variety of factors, including the number of staff required at the new locations and the number prepared to accept employment there.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his reasons for wanting to implement his proposals relating to teacher training colleges by 1978–79 rather than by 1981.
§ Mr. McElhoneThere is no justification for retaining excess capacity in the teacher training system longer than is necessary.