HC Deb 06 March 1952 vol 497 cc637-8
22. Mr. Frederick Mulley

asked the Minister of Education if she will now make a statement on the guidance she proposes to give local education authorities concerning their university awards.

Miss Horsbrugh

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued last week in which I gave local authorities all the information I could at this stage.

Mr. Mulley

Could the right hon. Lady tell the House whether there is to be any reduction in the number of local authority awards and whether she is taking steps to improve the number of awards which are being made by authorities such as Leeds, who issue one per 10,000 of the population, and Birmingham, Hampshire, Somerset, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, who are all well below the national average? May the House be told what is the position in this matter?

Miss Horsbrugh

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the information he has given to me. If he will look at the circular I think he will find that the point he mentions is met satisfactorily.