4. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state the conditions governing the entry of students to the universities for the year beginning October, 1946.
§ Mr. G. IsaacsI regret that 1 am not yet in a position to make this announcement, but I hope to do so shortly.
§ Sir Arthur SalterDoes my right hon. Friend realise how impossible it is for the university authorities to make arrangements for the autumn, if they do not know now the approximate number of students who will be coming up?
§ Mr. IsaacsThere is an opposite view to that. We cannot make any definite arrangements until we know exactly what the universities can take. I can assure the House that we are very anxious to put this matter right, and that 'we are in contact now with the university authorities.
Mr. VaneDoes the Minister realise how many young men and women are now in grave doubt as to how to plan their careers while these delays are taking place?
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir, but at the same time there are a great many young men in the Forces to whom we want to give a chance to enter the universities.
§ Sir A. SalterDoes not the Minister consider it unwise to wait until he hears from the universities as to how many people they can take, before giving them the elements upon which they may solve their problems and arrange necessary accommodation?
§ Mr. IsaacsI admit that that would be unwise, and we are in communication with them. We are trying to draw a middle course in dealing with this problem.