§ 43. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in approving university grants for the next quinquennium, he will ensure that specific funds 357 are allocated for scientific research at university institutions to meet the urgent and growing national needs of technological education.
§ Mr. H. BrookeMy right hon. Friend will take full account of the needs of technological education in determining the amount of grant to be made available to the universities through the University Grants Committee. Recurrent grants are in aid of their general income, and it is not proposed to earmark part of them for specific purposes.
§ Mr. FletcherDoes not the Financial Secretary think that that is very unsatisfactory, because we shall not get adequate sums spent on technical education unless the University Grants Committee has power to earmark moneys for that purpose?
§ Mr. BrookeI have had experience on both sides of the University Grants Committee, because I was at one time a member of the Court of the University of London. It was with the full agreement of the universities that the practice of earmarking recurrent grants was abandoned. Discretion is now left to the universities.
§ Mr. FletcherIn view of the overriding national necessity to do everything possible to further our technological progress, will the Minister now review that policy, which was determined some years ago?
§ Mr. BrookeI really think that it would be better to leave it in the hands—the wise hands—of the universities and of the University Grants Committee.