HC Deb 08 December 1980 vol 995 cc270-1W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an assurance that he is planning no more closures of colleges of education during the lifetime of this Parliament.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

My right hon. Friend has no current plans for closures of colleges of education beyond those which he announced on 6 August 1980.

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the educational advantages and disadvantages he expects to result from his proposal to reduce the number of colleges of education.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I refer the hon. Member to the paper "Future of the College of Education System in Scotland", copies of which were placed in the Library on 6 August 1980.

Mr. John MacKay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1970 the total annual cost of the colleges of education, the costs expressed in terms of 1970 values and the number of students on pre-service courses in each of these years.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The information is given in the following table:

Costs at outturn prices £ million Costs at 1970–71 values £ million Number of pre-service students
1970–71 9.519 9.519 13,168
1971–72 11.714 10.725 14,356
1972–73 12.913 10.952 14,391
1973–74 13.735 10.882 14,847
1974–75 16.702 11.048 12,630

Costs at outturn prices £ million Costs at 1970–71 values £ million Number of pre-service students
1975–76 19.065 10.118 12,478
1976–77 19.217 9.021 10,185
1977–78 16.648 6.881 7,875
1978–79 18.350 6.880 6,552
1979–80 20.109 6.465 6,529

Notes:

1. Costs are total annual costs, as met from direct grant, but not including tuition fees.

2. Student numbers are for academic sessions and include all students on pre-service courses (teacher training and others).

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he now has an accurate estimate of the financial savings of his proposal to reduce the number of colleges of education; and if he will give a detailed breakdown of the figure.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I have nothing to add to my replies to the hon. Members for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) and for Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth (Mr. Ewing) on 3 November and to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) on 7 November.—[Vol. 991, c.449 and 450; Vol. 991, c. 657 and 676.]