§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what requests for meetings he has received from professional bodies in the tertiary sector of education to discuss his proposals on the future of the college of education system in Scotland; and what consultations have in fact taken place.
§ Mr. Alexander Fletcher:Requests for meetings have been received from the national council of the Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland (ALCES), from the Hamilton branch of the association, and from unions representing non-academic staff in colleges of education. I have met representatives of ALCES. Officials of my Department have met representatives of ALCES and of unions representing non-academic staff in colleges of education; and the Hamilton branch of ALCES has been offered such a meeting.