HC Deb 22 March 1905 vol 143 cc791-2
MR. CHARLES DOUGLAS (Lanarkshire, N.W.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the recent increase of grants to University colleges in England and Wales, it is proposed to augment the provision made for the Scottish Universities.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this. Only one Scottish University college, that at Dundee, has hitherto participated in this grant, and in agreeing to increase the grant in response to representations made to me by the University Colleges I said I would invoke the services of a Committee to advise me with regard to its distribution. Accordingly the Treasury appointed a Committee, consisting of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Haddingtonshire, Sir F. Mowatt, Mr. Cripps, M.P., and Dr. Woods, who in advising as to the allocation of the increased grant said—"We agree with all previous Committees in regarding the inclusion of University College, Dundee, as anomalous, as the college is now part of a Scottish University which is provided for under a separate statutory grant." It is not proposed, therefore, to give this college any share of the additional grant. Up to the present time, notwithstanding the Reports of various Committees, it has received its own grant of £1,000.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)

The present grant to Dundee College will be maintained.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot commit myself to that in view of the opinion of a Committee that the grant is anomalous. The matter is being considered.

MR. CHARLES DOUGLAS

pointed out that his question was whether, in view of the increased grants to the University colleges in England and Wales, the provision made for the Scottish Universities would be increased.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

replied in the negative, and said he regarded the increase to English University colleges as the first equivalent grant to England for grants which had long been enjoyed by Scotland.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

And is there to be any augmentation of any sort or kind of the grant for higher education in Ireland?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

My answer to that is that this is an equivalent grant for England alone.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Equivalent for what?

*MR. SPEAKER

This Question does not relate to Ireland, and of any further inquiry in that direction notice must be given in the ordinary way.

MR. LOUGH

Is there any precedent for promising a grant of this kind without first obtaining the approval of Parliament?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Yes. Sir, an exact precedent.

MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)

Is any subvention made out of local rates in aid of these colleges?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

In certain cases contributions from the rates are made by the local authorities to the Universities of which the colleges form part, but I must ask for notice of the Question whether there is any direct subsidy from the rates.