HC Deb 27 July 1891 vol 356 cc410-1
MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that on 29th April, 1889, the University for London Commission reported that— A reasonable time should be allowed to the Senate and Convocation of the University of London to consider whether they will apply to Her Majesty for a new charter in accordance with the suggestions contained in Report of the Commission"; that— In the event of their applying for and obtaining such a new charter, no other University can now be established in London, and that the prayer of the petition of University and King's College be not granted"; and that, in the contrary event, the subject should be remitted to the Commissioners for further consideration; whether he is aware that on 12th May last the Senate of the University of London invited Convocation to concur in petitioning the Crown for a new charter, but that such charter was admitted in a Memorandum issued by the Senate to differ very materially from the charter suggested by the Royal Commission; and whether, in view of the fact that a Committee of the Privy Council has recently given judgment in favour of the grant of a charter in accordance with the Petition of University College and King's College, the Government intends to ask Parliament to give its assent to this charter without further consideration of the subject by the Royal Commission, and without Convocation of the University of London having had an opportunity of accepting or rejecting a charter drafted upon the lines of the Royal Commission's Report?

MR. GOSCHEN

I have to inform the hon. Member that the London University failed to obtain the sanction of Convocation to the draft scheme, by which they proposed to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission. Thereupon the Privy Council resumed their consideration of the Petition of University and King's Colleges for the grant of a charter, and after considerable discussion, requested the petitioners to submit an amended draft charter. This has just been done; but before the Committee report to Her Majesty, the draft charter as finally settled must be laid before both Houses for 30 days. It will then, of course, be subject to discussion in Parliament, and it will be for Parliament, and not for the Government, to decide whether it shall be accepted.