§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state what progress has been made in broadening access to Scottish higher education through wider recognition of the national certificate.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis is a matter primarily for the Scottish Vocational Education Council to take forward as the custodian of the national certificate. I understand that, following discussions with SCOTVEC the Scottish Universities' Council on Entrance has agreed to recommend to individual universities in Scotland that they make sympathetic use of waiver arrangements in the case 399W of deserving candidates with national certificate qualifications. SCOTVEC and SUCE have agreed that the performance of first year students gaining admission to universities either solely on the basis of national certificate modules or on a mixture of national certificate modules and other qualifications should be closely monitored.
To assist admissions officers and staff in the various specialist departments in institutions of higher education in Scotland in dealing with students who hold the national certificate, my Department is funding the appointment of four development officers by SCOTVEC to assist admission staff in better equipping themselves to interpret and make an assessment of the qualifications offered by applicants. This exercise is intended to build on discussion begun at a conference sponsored by my Department last February at which representatives of SCOTVEC, the Council for National Academic Awards, the universities and central institutions met to consider how progression from national certificate to higher education might be enhanced.
Whatever national initiatives are undertaken, it is, of course, open to individual institutions to make their own arrangements at a local level to encourage national certificate students to move on to higher education. A good example of this is an initiative in the west of Scotland where a working party has been set up, consisting of representatives of Glasgow and Strathclyde universities, Paisley and Glasgow colleges of technology and further education colleges managed by Strathclyde region, specifically to devise national certificate modular programmes which, if successfully completed, would give direct access to first degree courses in business studies and engineering at the two universities as well as to HND and degree courses at the two central institutions. The aim is to construct programmes which will be of particular relevance to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, to adults without formal qualifications, or to those seeking to enhance their employment prospects through a reorientation of their qualifications. This is an extremely encouraging development which I am sure will be of interest to other institutions.
§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he received from the
general councils, students' representative councils, student unions, student associations and trade unions of the eightScottish universities regarding future control of Scottish higher education following his statement in the House of Commons on 1 April 1987.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the general council of the university of Edinburgh.
§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future development of adult and continuing education in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythProvision for the development of adult and continuing education in Scotland is made through the normal rate support grant arrangements with local authorities. This allows for flexibility in the allocation of priorities by each region in order to respond to local requirements.
To establish close links with industry and commerce, additional central government funds are allocated to the joint Manpower Services Commission and Scottish 400W Education Department programme of local collaborative projects. Under this scheme, educational establishments collaborate with local industrial and commercial interests to identify particular training requirements in their areas.
In 1986, the Scottish PICKUP (Professional, Industrial and Commercial Updating) programme was launched to promote the recognition of and the provision of updating courses for people already in employment. This is a rolling programme of projects funded by central Government and extending over three years to 1988–89.
The Workers Educational Association receives funds annually for the promotion of adult education throughout Scotland and have power to direct their expenditure in accordance with their income.
§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations relating to the future control of Scottish tertiary education he has received from student organisations, trade unions, governing bodies and individuals in the Scottish central institutions and colleges of education.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythFollowing his statement on 1 April 1987, my right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the Joint Committee of Principals of Colleges of Education and the Principals and Directors of Central Institutions and separately from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the General Council of Edinburgh University regarding the control of Scottish higher education; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy right hon. and learned Friend has recently received a letter regretting his decision, announced on 1 April 1987 at column 1107, that the Scottish universities would continue to be funded alongside other universities in Great Britain through the new Universities Funding Council; and suggesting that the members of the Scottish committee of the new council should be appointed by my right hon. and learned Friend in consultation with the Scottish universities and colleges.
My right hon. and learned Friend has replied pointing out the divergence in views between the general council and the university of Edinburgh which, like the majority of the other Scottish universities, did not favour funding of the universities through a Scottish body; and saying that he would consider the method of appointment of members to the Scottish committee in the light of responses to the recent consultative exercise.