§ 5. Mr. Grimondasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public investment will be needed in the years 1963–64 and 1964–65, in addition to the estimates set out in Command Paper No. 2177, in order to implement the recommendations of the Robbins and Newsom Committees.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Government have undertaken to adjust capital grants to university institutions to provide for the expansion of student numbers recommended by the Robbins Committee. The University Grants Committee 954 and the Education Departments are now discussing the best methods for securing that expansion with the institutions concerned; and decisions about increased investment must await the outcome of those discussions.
Questions about the implementation of the Newsom Committee's Report are, of course, far my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Education; but the right hon. Gentleman will have seen reports of the Minister's speech at Rochdale on 11th November, in which he announced increased cost limits and increased programmes for school building, following the Newsom Report's emphasis on the importance of continuing the policy of improving our secondary schools.
§ Mr. GrimondAs public investment in education in the latest White Paper is shown as falling in 1964–65 as compared with 1963–64—obviously that figure will have to be revised, in view of what the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said—may we take it that a full and comprehensive statement about the sums involved and the proposals of the Government will be made as soon as these investigations have been conducted?
§ Mr. MaudlingThere was a note in the White Paper saying that the figures for universities would be revised after discussion. On the general development of education expenditure, I think there is a later Question about White Papers on public expenditure generally.