asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if colleges of education, as employing bodies, are parties to National Joint Industrial Council agreements; and if he will take steps to ensure that employees of colleges of education are given conditions of service and pay at standard not less than those obtaining for similar grades of public staff covered by National Joint Industrial Council agreements.

Colleges of education in Scotland are not parties to National Joint Industrial Council agreements but in general wages and conditions of service in the colleges are based on N.J.I.C. agreements for comparable jobs, where these exist.