§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department initiated prior to 6 August with Hamilton college of education regarding the utilising of any surplus teaching accommodation.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherMy Department was involved in discussions with Hamilton college and with Strathclyde regional council about the lease of some surplus accommodation in the college as a teachers resource centre, which moved into the college in autumn 1979.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pub-plain the difference between the figure of 322 students identified at the 1979–80 student population of Hamilton college of education in his document "Future of the Colleges of Education in Scotland" and the alternative figure of 536 used in subsequent departmental statements.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe figure of 322 relates to the full-time college-based student population of Hamilton college of education at the start of the 1979–80 academic year. The figure of 536, which is used in the calculation of unit costs, relates to the financial year 1978–79 and includes a notional allowance for part-time and school-based in-service students.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the total cost of redundancy payments for each category of employees in the Hamilton college of education if he were to close the college.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) on 7 November.—[Vol. 991, c.675.]
381W
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he intends to do with the residential accommodation in Hamilton college of education if he closes the college.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThis will be a matter for discussion with the management of the college and other interested parties.