§ 48. Mr. Boydenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the University Grants Committee have to overcome the difficulties anticipated in recruiting scientific staff for the university expansion programme.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe existence of this problem is one of the reasons for a flexible expansion policy and the University Grants Committee has it very much in mind. Salaries were revised last year and the increase in recent years of the number of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research post-graduate training grants will contribute materially to the supply of potential teachers. I understand that the University Grants Committee is at present considering representations about a further salary revision and that the provision of adequate facilities for university staff—both for teaching and research—is also the object of their particular attention.
§ Mr. BoydenIs it not highly desirable that more publicity should be given about university proposals in view of their importance to the general educational system? Cannot more announcements and publicity be given so that perhaps the matter might be discussed here?
§ Sir E. BoyleI will certainly consider that helpful suggestion. It is a fact that the D.S.I.R. grants have gone up from 979 current in 1958 to 1,259 current in October, 1960, an increase of nearly 30 per cent. The importance of mathematics and science teachers is great. The importance of mathematics teachers for the whole of our education system is so great that I will consider the point the hon. Gentleman has made.
§ Dr. A. ThompsonWill the Minister bear in mind that the shortage of laboratory staffs and technicians is one of the most serious deficiencies in scientific and technical work in the universities, so much so that lecturers and assistant lecturers in some universities are having to do work which should be done by laboratory assistants? Will he give very special attention to this matter, particularly in the Scottish universities?
§ Sir E. BoyleI will look into that.