§ 22. Mr. Albuasked the Minister of Education how it is proposed to spend the sum of £20,000 which he is making available for the promotion of educational research.
§ Sir D. EcclesI have offered £5,000 a year for three years to the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids towards the running costs of its new experimental development unit; £16,000 over four years to the National Foundation for Educational Research for research into the relative merits of block release and day release; about £12,000 over three years to Sheffield University for research into the logical programming of mathematics syllabuses; and about £9,500 over four years to 674 Manchester University for a sociological study in grammar schools.
I expect that the actual grants in 1962–63 for these projects will total about £12,000. I am considering a number of other applications.
§ Mr. AlbuAre not these a very small number of projects for such a vast undertaking as our education service? Will the Minister have another look at the whole question which, I realise, we are to debate later today, to see if a good deal more money can be provided?
§ Sir D. EcclesI would ask the hon. Gentleman to wait for the debate.
Mr. B. HarrisonCan my right hon. Friend explain how the large sum of money he has just detailed reaches the total of £20,000? If his estimates are to be as much at variance as that, we shall get into trouble with the Ministry of Education Vote.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe reason is that these are projects covering three or four years and in the first year the contribution is not required to be very great. We estimate that for all those projects I detailed only £12,000 will be required out of the £20,000 in the first year.