§ 67. Sir JOHN JARDINEasked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury have imposed on the four Universities of Scotland the institution of an inclusive or composite fee of uniform amount throughout the four universities for all the classes included in a particular course of study as a condition precedent to receiving the ultimate increase recommended by Lord Elgin's committee of the existing grants; whether hitherto these universities have managed their internal affairs, subject only to the control of the Scottish Universities Committee of the Privy Council and of Imperial Parliament; and whether he is aware that the general council of the University of Edinburgh looks with disfavour and apprehendsion on this first precedent for subjecting the internal affairs of a Scottish university to the control of a State Department without the express sanction of Parliament for the same?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs regards the first parts of the question, perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the answers already given on this subject. With regard to the last part, no official communication has been received by the Treasury from the general council of Edinburgh University, but I have had the pleasure of meeting certain members of it.
§ Captain MURRAYHas the right hon. Gentleman finally made up his mind on the subject or is he still open to reason and argument?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am always open to that.