§ 54. Mr. Kenneth Lindsayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much capital expenditure on universities has so far been sanctioned during the last three years.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay)Figures of the total amount of capital expenditure initiated by Universities and University colleges are not readily available, but non-recurrent grants have been approved 1380 during the last three academic years as follow:
During the present academic year non-recurrent grants amounting to £5,624,894 have been approved up to date. In addition, grants have been approved in principle in respect of a number of schemes, the exact cost of which cannot yet be stated, but which will amount to a considerable sum.
£ 1945–46 1,792,253 1946–47 3,089,250 1947–48 4,682,061
§ Mr. LindsayHow much of that money has been spent?
Mr. H. D. HughesWould my hon. Friend publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the major projects involved, giving the names of the Universities and the purposes of the projects?
§ Mr. ScollanWould my hon. Friend say exactly what proportion of the sum granted last year was spent on new projects?
§ Mr. JayNo. I could not give that information without notice. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put a Question down.
§ Mr. RankinDo those figures include amounts spent in Scottish universities?
§ Mr. CobbMy hon. Friend will admit. will he not, that it is all very well making the money available, but what steps is he taking, in conjunction with the Ministry of Works and other Ministries, to see that materials are available to make it possible to spend the money?
§ Mr. JayWe are taking a great many steps. The actual volume of capital work going on is greater than it has ever been before.