§ 17. Mr. Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what machinery exists for ensuring that money spent by the universities on their building programmes is expended in the most economic manner possible.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Sir Edward Boyle)I would refer my hon. Friend to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee for 1960–61 paragraphs 14 to 23, which set out the machinery in question.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs my hon. Friend satisfied that a combination of architects, academic authorities and perhaps the Treasury and the Ministry of Works is satisfactory for the purpose of ensuring the most economic use of these resources?
§ Sir E. BoyleMy hon. Friend is right to draw attention to this matter. Techniques in building economy are always developing, not only in university building, but over the whole range of building, such as schools, hospitals and housing. There is always room for progress, but a good deal has already been done, as my hon. Friend will find if he looks at this Report.