§ 26. Mr. Malcolm MacPhersonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to make available a substantial number of additional places in the universities for Commonwealth students in accordance with the decisions of the Commonwealth Education Conference.
Mr. AmoryIt rests with the universities themselves to decide whom to admit to their courses. I am confident, however, that they will do all in their power to further the recommendations of the Oxford Conference and to place students from the Commonwealth. The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has the matter under active consideration.
§ Mr. MacPhersonIs the Chancellor aware that it is highly desirable that the recommendations of the Oxford Conference should be put into effect? Does he realise that there is a shortage of places for British students in the universities? In view of the anxiety of parents and schoolmasters, is it not desirable that he or the universities should make clear to the public the considerations on which students are selected?
Mr. AmoryI agree in general with what the hon. Gentleman said. He will know that a rapid expansion in the capacity of our universities, from about 100,000 places last year to about 125,000 in the mid-1960s and about 135,000 a few years later is under way. He will know from his own experience the difficulties of expanding teaching capacity as fast as we should all like. However, I believe that the universities regard the present rate of expansion as about the most rapid which can be carried out, taking all factors into consideration.