§ 52. Sir Ernest Graham-Littleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in allocating to individual universities the forthcoming Treasury grants, he will consider the special onerous circumstances of London University which alone of the universities has been compelled to incur large additional expenditure occasioned directly by the evacuation of its students and teachers, and which at the same time receives from the main local authority concerned, the London County Council, a contribution equivalent to a ½d. rate, whereas provincial cities, which include in their area universities, commonly contribute to these the equivalent of a 1d. rate?
§ Sir J. SimonIn the allocation of the grant voted annually by Parliament for universities and colleges, the Government are guided by the advice of the University Grants Committee. As stated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 20th February, the committee have recently carried out, at my request, a survey of university finance. I understand that in the course of this survey the committee received from the Court of London University full information on the matters to which my hon. Friend refers.
§ Sir E. Graham-LittleDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the composition of this committee makes it improbable that they would be generally familiar with the conditions of modern universities inasmuch as eight of the nine members of that committee are graduates of Oxford or Cambridge?
§ Sir J. SimonI quite understand my hon. Friend's special interest in the great constituency which he represents, but I think the committee to which he refers by no means confines itself to Oxford and Cambridge.