HC Deb 03 November 1980 vol 991 cc446-51W
Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many representations had been sought, how many received, and how many of them had supported the subsequent proposal to close Hamilton college of education, prior to his announcement in August;

(2) how many representations he has received regarding his proposal to close Hamilton college of education; and of these how many support his proposal and how many oppose it;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of organisations making representations to him since July regarding his proposals to close Hamilton college of education; and if he will indicate for each whether they support or oppose his proposal.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Before my right hon. Friend's announcement of 6 August he did not invite representations; he received 90 representations, none of which proposed the closure of Hamilton college of education. Following his announcement of 6 August my right hon. Friend has received 117 separate representations, many of common origin, on the decision to close Hamilton college; none of these supported the decision. The following organisations have made representations against this decision:

  • National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers
  • East Kilbride District Council
  • Motherwell District Council
  • Clydesdale District Council
  • Presbytery of Hamilton
  • Bothwell Constituency Labour Party
  • Lanark Division of the Primary Head Teachers Association
  • Hamilton College Action Committee
  • Staff of Newarthill Primary School
  • Parents' Association, St Mary's RC Primary School, Lanark
  • Staff of Belvidere Primary School, Bellshill
  • Staff of Udston Primary School, Hamilton
  • Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland
  • Scottish Association of Drama in Education
  • Joint Board of Studies for Engineering and Technical Education, Bell and Hamilton Colleges
  • Strathaven Community Council
  • General Teaching Council for Scotland
  • Motherwell Schools Council
  • Monklands Primary Education Committee
  • East Kilbride (West) Schools Council
  • 448
  • East Kilbride (East) Schools Council
  • Larkhall, Lesmahagow and Strathaven Schools Council
  • Synod of Clydesdale
  • Govan Child Guidance Centre
  • Staff of Sikeside Primary School, Gorebridge
  • Dalziel Parish Church Kirk Session, Motherwell
  • Bishop of Tayside, Glasgow and Galloway
  • Mid-Lanark District Council of Churches
  • Fairhill Community Workers Lunch Club
  • Sandford Community Council
  • Hillhouse Parish Church
  • Uddingston Ratepayers' and Electors' Committee
  • Hamilton Conservative Party
  • The Educational Institute of Scotland
  • Monklands District Council
  • Board of Governors, Hamilton College of Education
  • Hamilton Students Representative Council
  • East Kilbride Conservative Association
  • Auldhouse/Chapelton Community Council
  • Hamilton Schools Council
  • Scottish Trades Union Congress
  • Hamilton District Council
  • Cathkin, Springhall and Whitlawburn Community Council
  • Presbytery of Lanark
  • Staff of Castlehill Primary School

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the latest available figures for the unit running costs for each of the colleges of education in Scotland; and in the case of Hamilton college of education if he will publish the figure both gross and net of expenditures involved in the residential accommodation.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the latest available figure for the unit running cost for each of the colleges of education in Scotland; and in the case of Callander Park college of education if he will publish the figure both gross and net of expenditure involved in the residential accommodation.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The overall cost per student in Scottish colleges of education in 1979–80 financial year was:

Aberdeen £2,341
Callendar Park £3,079
Craigie £2,852
Craiglockhart £2,319
Dundee £2,996
Dunfermline £2,487
Hamilton £2,843
Jordanhill £2,429
Moray House £2,415
Notre Dame £2,298

The information is based on gross expenditure and on a student population which takes account of students receiving in-service training and non-teacher training. Income from letting of surplus accommodation, where appropriate, has been deducted from gross expenditure before calculating the cost per student.

The cost per student for Hamilton and Callendar Park colleges, respectively, excluding net expenditure on residential accommodation, is £2,520 and £3,011.

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, for each college of education in Scotland, the number of teaching place equivalents represented by school-based in-service training.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, for each college of education in Scotland, the number of teaching place equivalents represented by school-based in-service training.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Notional full-time student equivalents in session 1979–80 are set out in the following table:

Aberdeen 194
Callendar Park 70
Craigie 101
Craiglockhart 84
Dundee 140
Dunfermline 24
Hamilton 152
Jordanhill 304
Moray House 87
Notre Dame 140
Total 1,296

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the estimated savings in public expenditure involved in closing Hamilton college of education and the estimated costs to public expenditure if its work were to be carried on by other colleges.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the estimated savings in public expenditure involved in the proposed closing of Callander Park college of education, Falkirk, and the estimated cost to public expenditure if its work were to be carried on by other colleges.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

No. Significant savings will accrue from reducing the number of colleges from 10 to seven, but their precise extent will depend on the period over which, and the precise methods by which, our decisions are implemented. These are matters for discussion with the colleges and other interests concerned.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many representations had been sought, how many received and how many of them had supported the subsequent proposal to close Callander Park college of education, Falkirk, prior to his announcement in August;

(2) how many representations he has received regarding his proposal to close Callander park college of education, Falkirk; and of the total how many support his proposal and how many oppose it;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of organisations making representations to him since July regarding his proposal to close Callander Park college, Falkirk; and if he will indicate for each whether they support or oppose his proposals.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Before my right hon. Friend's announcement of 6 August he did not invite representations; he received 90 representations, none of which proposed the closure of Callendar Park College of Education. Following his announcement of 6 August my right hon. Friend has received 77 separate representations, many of common origin, on the decision to close Callendar Park college; none of these supported the decision. The following organisations have made representations against this decision:

  • Falkirk District Council
  • National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers
  • Central Region Primary, Nursery and Special Schools' Headteachers' Association Grahamston Community Council
  • The Falkirk and District Branch of the Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped
  • Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland
  • Falkirk District Arts and Civic Council
  • The Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire Constituency Labour Party
  • The Educational Institute of Scotland
  • Callendar Park Campaign Council
  • Hamilton Students Representative Council
  • 451
  • Staff of Bankier Primary School
  • National Association of Local Government Officers
  • Scottish Trades Union Congress
  • Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped
  • Board of Governors, Callendar Park College of Education

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with other interests about possible future uses of the buildings at Callander Park college of education, Falkirk, in the event of his deciding to persist in his intention to close the college; if he will name those other interests; and at what stage discussions presently stand.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

My right hon. Friend has, so far, had no such discussions.

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