§ 2. Miss Herbisonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that many students possessing the Certificate of Attestation of Fitness will be refused entrance to a Scottish university this year, what plans he now has for the extension of university provision in Scotland; and by which year there will be no shortages of places for students qualified to enter a university.
§ The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster-General (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter)I regret that information is not available in the form requested. In the last 10 years the number of places at universities in Scotland has risen from 14,218 to 19,142, an increase of 35 per cent., and expansion is continuing at the existing universities. Moreover, as the hon. Lady will be aware, the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow, will shortly attain university status. Consideration of the possibility of further development must plainly await the Report of the Robbins Committee.
§ Miss HerbisonIs the Minister aware that raising the status of the Royal College of Science and Technology will not provide one extra university place for Scottish students? Is he also aware that, although we have been given this expansion, each year there are in Scotland many hundreds of students who have the qualifications for entering a university but are debarred from entering because there are no places for them? Surely the right hon. Gentleman ought now to be able, without waiting for any report from the Crowther Committee, to give us some indication of what university expansion is to take place? Is he aware that the need is there without a report from any Committee?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhen the hon. Lady refers to the Crowther Committee obviously she means the Robbins Committee. I entirely disagree with her. There is already an expansion taking place in the number of student places, and I gave an indication of its order of magnitude. We have appointed this highly authoritative body, under Lord Robbins, which is to report later this year and I am sure that, on reflection, the hon. Lady would think it quite unreasonable to consider extending further the number of places until we have had that Report.
§ Miss HerbisonI do not accept it as at all unreasonable that the Chancellor should be able so to do, knowing the shortage of places in Scottish universities. Surely the Minister must be aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] If hon. Members opposite knew anything about English they would realise that it is a question that I ask—surely the Minister must be aware that there is this shortage and that present plans for expansion in the eyes of everyone concerned with university education are shockingly inadequate for the needs of our students?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think the hon. Lady must be aware that that is not the universal rule. She must also be aware that at this time of the year no action taken now could affect the entry this autumn. It is, therefore, surely elementary common sense, having obtained the wisdom of this highly authoritative body, to await its Report. I am bound to add one further thing, that the expansion in Scotland of university places—which is 620 actually slightly larger proportionately than in the southern part of these islands—is a thing of which I am very proud.