§ 2.36 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT HUDSONMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the plans for extending the Imperial College of Science and Technology will involve the removal of the Imperial Institute from its existing site; at what date this is likely to materialise; what plans are being prepared in the meantime for the future accommodation of the Imperial Institute; and when these plans will be approved.]
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (EARL DE LA WARR)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have under active consideration the future of the Imperial Institute in relation to the present plans, which have been announced to Parliament, for the further development in South Kensington of the Imperial College of Science and Technology. They appreciate the importance of an early decision, but I regret that I am not in a position to make a statement to-day.
§ VISCOUNT HUDSONMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl if he will remind his right honourable friend the Minister of Education that the Answer rather tends to put the cart before the horse. The important thing is to get the question of the Imperial Institute settled satisfactorily before we deal with the question of the extension of the Imperial College of Science and Technology.
§ EARL DE LA WARRMy Lords, I will certainly draw the attention of my right honourable friend to the right position of the cart and the horse. In the meanwhile, I think can answer on his behalf to the extent of saying that he certainly does appreciate the very close interconnection of the two questions.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMay I ask the noble Earl whether he is aware that the Report of the Tweedsmuir Committee on the Imperial Institute was published over two years ago, and whether he can say what is the reason for the continuing delay in reaching a decision?
§ EARL DE LA WARRIt is a very difficult subject. I can assure the noble Earl that the matter is having very close consideration.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I ask why it is necessary to move the Imperial Institute? It has been in position for seventy or eighty years, and it is a very important institute in Colonial affairs. Why should there be any question of moving it from its own home? Is it not possible for the noble Earl to move some of the lodgers who are there, and so give the Institute more room in its own premises?
§ EARL DE LA WARRI can only repeat that all these very important questions are under the close consideration of Her Majesty's Government.