§ 47. Mr. Prittasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement as to the qualifications required for admission of students to German universities in the British zone; the precautions taken to prevent active Nazis being admitted; and the extent of Nazi propaganda being carried on in the universities.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. John Hynd)As from 1st May, 1946, the admission of students to German universities will be governed by regulations approved by the four occupying Powers. These prohibit the admission of any person who was an active member of the Nazi Party, and provide for priority to be given to applicants who were never candidates for admission to the Nazi Party or members of the Hitler Youth. Remaining vacancies may be filled by persons who were non-active party members, but each case must be approved by a special denazification committee and the total of non-active party members admitted must not exceed 10 per cent. of the total. A number of vacancies are reserved for displaced persons. There is no well-founded evidence that Nazi propaganda is being carried on in the universities.
§ Mr. PrittWhile it is no doubt the case that students will be taken care of, is anything to be done about the system under which all educational facilities have been reserved for Nazis under the Nazi regime, so that the universities were packed with Nazis?
§ Mr. HyndThe arrangements which I have outlined, and which operate from 1st May, have been designed to ensure that whatever system has operated in the past shall cease to operate from that date.
§ Mr. PrittI do not think that my hon. Friend quite understood the point of my question. I asked whether anything was being done about a particular system.
§ Mr. HyndCertainly, Sir. The Military Government in the British zone are entitled to exclude anyone from the university whom they may consider to be an undesirable character.