HC Deb 16 May 1927 vol 206 cc920-2
51. Mr. DALTON (for Mr. TREVELYAN)

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the University of London has arranged to purchase the Bloomsbury site from the Duke of Bedford; what the terms of purchase are; and how much is being provided by His Majesty's Government and how much from other sources?

Mr. McNEILL

I have been asked to reply.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I am informed that no contract has yet been signed. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in the House on the 9th November last, he promised in June, 1926, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, that they would be prepared, within certain financial limits, to ask Parliament to make provision for improved accommodation of the university, subject to approval by the Treasury of plans to be formulated by the Senate. No official intimation has yet reached the Treasury, and I am at present unable to give any further information save that the amount which Parliament would be asked to provide towards the improved accommodation f the university would be, approximately, one-half the price paid by the Government for the Bloomsbury site, which was £425,000.

Mr. P. HARRIS

Is the Government grant conditional on the removal of King's College from Somerset House, or

is it made without any condition of that kind?

Mr. McNEILL

I really cannot say. The negotiations have not yet been completed.

Mr. J. JONES

May I be allowed to ask the hon. Gentleman whether the Government are going to consider the advisability of increasing the accommodation for hon. Members in this House, seeing that we are going to increase the accommodation for university schools?