HC Deb 15 June 1961 vol 642 cc623-4
20. Mr. Rankin

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of places estimated to be needed in the four universities in Scotland by 1970; and if he will give the detailed provisions planned for each.

Sir E. Boyle

I would refer the hon. Member to the second paragraph of the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend on 18th May and to the statement I made on 26th January last in reply to the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson). Underlying these statements is the calculation that the total demand from Scottish students is likely to be of the order of 8,000 additional places in the early 1970s, and the Scottish universities' own assessment of their capacity to expand.

Mr. Rankin

Neither in the beginning, the middle nor the end has that Answer anything to do with the Question on the Order Paper. I have asked for the figures of supply and demand for 1970. The hon. Gentleman either refuses or has forgotten to give them. Is it not the ease that by 1970, the date which everyone is looking to, the number of places available by expansion for Scottish students will still be over 2,000 short of requirements? In view of that, will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. and learned Friend to look again at the statement which he made on 18th May?

Sir E. Boyle

I do not think that I can go beyond the Answer which I have given. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the second half of it in particular, he will find that it is pretty specific. I assure him that we have followed the exceptional procedure of fixing the capi- tal programme for the universities for the next four years, and we have borne the expansion of Scottish universities very much in mind.

21. Miss Herbison

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the considerations which caused him to decide that a fifth university was not necessary in Scotland.

Sir E. Boyle

The location of new university foundations in the immediate future was considered by the University Grants Committee, whose recent recommendations on this subject have been accepted. My right hon. and learned Friend explained the underlying considerations for the omission of a new Scottish university from the present list in his statement on 18th May. Further development must, as he then explained, await the Report of the Committee on Higher Education at present working under the Chairmanship of Lord Robbins.

Miss Herbison

Is the hon. Gentleman quite certain that by 1970 there will be accommodation for these extra 8,000 pupils? If he is not, what does he propose to do about it and what consultations will the Chancellor of the Exchequer have with the University Grants Committee?

Sir E. Boyle

If I may say so, that supplementary question hardly arises out of the Question which the hon. Lady tabled. I cannot say any more than I said to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) just now.

Mr. Rankin

The hon. Gentleman did not say enough.