§ 14. Major Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with the new teachers' training college in Cyprus; when this building will be completed; and whether he will consider extending this college to include other faculties so that it might form the nucleus of a university college.
§ Mr. HareWork has begun on the college buildings; they are expected to be ready for occupation by the end of 1957. It is hoped that the residential accommodation, which will take about twenty months to complete, will be started later this year. My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to consider extending the functions of the college.
§ Major WallI thank my right hon. Friend for that most satisfactory reply. Would not he agree to go on considering the question of a university, bearing in mind not only the question of Cyprus, but the whole of the Middle East? Would he agree that there are not enough university places in this country or in the American university at Beirut to fulfil all the requirements of the Middle East; and also bear in mind that such a university would greatly enhance British prestige as well as fulfil a need in the Middle East?
§ Mr. HareAs I told my hon. and gallant Friend in February, we have the possibility of setting up a university at Cyprus well in mind, Meanwhile, as I think he will agree, we should get on with this first building and then we can think about it.
§ Mrs. L. JegerIn order that there may be some students ready to enter the college in 1957, will the Government try to get the secondary schools re-opened? 466 Otherwise, there will be no students with sufficient educational attainments to enter the college?