§ 32. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the cost of education per head at Makerere College includes any building and research expenditure; and if he will detail how the figure of £530 is reached.
§ Mr. LytteltonThis figure is reached by dividing the estimated recurrent expenditure for the period 1951–55 by the estimated total number of students over the 2144 period. It includes some research expenditure but not the capital cost of building.
§ Mr. RankinDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is a very high charge indeed, especially when our aim is to found an inter-racial college? Will he look into the matter in order to see whether it is not possible to reduce this charge?
§ Mr. LytteltonI think the hon. Gentleman might be somewhat reassured if I said that this charge is at the outset of the scheme, and expressed in the short-term, because the overhead expenses are now divided amongst too few students, and that I should expect to see the total charge per head further reduced.
§ Mr. RankinI thought the right hon. Gentleman said the overheads were not charged against the fee?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. The cost of building—that type of overhead—is not charged. The salaries, for instance, of the senior faculties are the ones to which I am referring.