asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which colleges of education provide training facilities and/or courses for people wishing to teach in junior occupational centres for the mentally handicapped.

Four colleges of education in Scotland—Aberdeen, Dundee, Notre Dame and Moray House—provide a one-year course for registered teachers leading to the qualification to teach mentally handicapped children and include in the course instruction or experience relating to severely mentally handicapped children. Jordanhill offers a similar one-year course but this does not cover the teaching of the severely handicapped.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the minimum acceptable qualifications for teachers in junior occupational centres for the mentally handicapped in Scotland.

There are no prescribed qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if any surveys have been conducted on teaching requirements and qualifications for junior occupational centres for the mentally handicapped; and what were the findings;(2) if any surveys have been conducted on teaching requirements and qualifications in senior occupational centres for the mentally handicapped; and what were the findings.

An inquiry in this field was conducted by the Melville Committee, whose findings are detailed in its report "The Training of Staff for Centres for the Mentally Handicapped" published by H.M.S.O. in February 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Melville Report on staff training occupational centres.

The Scottish Technical Education Council is considering the content of a course suitable for instructors in junior occupational centres. It is hoped to mount the first of these courses at one or more further education colleges at the beginning of the 1975–76 session.Since October 1974 the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work has been responsible for the promotion of training for staff in senior training centres throughout the United Kingdom and has approved interim arrangements for training courses. Two courses will be mounted at further education colleges in Scotland in session 1975–76.