§ 10. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the endowment by Her Majesty's Government at one of the universities of the United Kingdom of a research unit to study the military, economic and other problems of world disarmament.
§ Sir E. BoyleNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ThomsonWould the Minister reconsider this before rejecting the matter out of hand? Is he aware that there are a great many difficulties and complicated problems which it is impossible for a busy Government Department to tackle? Will he bear in mind the example set by the Home Secretary in encouraging research at universities on penal problems and remember that the Americans are doing this on a considerable scale? Are we always, under the present Government, to lag behind the idealism of the new American administration?
§ Sir E. BoyleNo request has yet been received from any university for the endowment or encouragement of a research unit of this kind.
§ Mr. E. L. MallalieuCannot the Government take the initiative in this matter? Surely they are not going to sit back and allow not only the Russians to lead us in propaganda peace appeals but also now the Americans?
§ Sir E. BoyleThis goes to the heart of our whole system of dealing with the universities in this country. Where it is a matter of a research unit, we would always wait for a university to make a request. That is the whole basis of our system of dealing with the universities through the University Grants Committee. It would be quite a new departure in policy if the Government were to take the initiative in encouraging a research unit of this kind.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Minister saying that if we can persuade a university to take an interest in this matter, the Government will sympathetically consider such a request?
§ Sir E. BoyleI am sure that both the universities themselves and the University Grants Committee will take note of the views expressed by hon. Members opposite.