University Building Programme (Hansard, 24 January 1963)

§ 8. Sir B. Janner
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the unemployment which exists, what plans he has for the allocation of more money for the erection of university buildings and other works to utilise more manpower for the necessary constructions.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
The university building programme is already a large one, and in September I announced that an additional £5 million worth of work on it would be started in the calendar year 1963.

§ Sir B. Janner
Will the Minister consider with his colleagues whether the present is the time for schemes relating to extensions to be taken up, in conjunction with other public works? Is he aware that unemployment is increasing in a serious manner? As there is a great shortage of space at the universities, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a start should be made at the present time?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
If the hon. Gentleman will study my Answer he will see that that is exactly what we have done with the very large increase to which I referred. In fact, capital expenditure on the university programme in the current year is running at a rate of rather more than four times the level ruling in 1951–52.

Mr. Lee
Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed that today's announcement says that unemployment has reached the figure of 815,000? How high must, it go before schemes such as those referred to by my hon. Friend are brought into operation?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
If the right hon. Gentleman will study my Answer he will see that we have already taken action some weeks ago in respect of expanding the university buildings programme. The request of the hon. Gentleman is behind our action.

§ Mr. Mitchison
Does the right hon. Gentleman know that the universities consider that this increase is quite insufficient, especially the building for scientific work and research?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
Of course, like other live organisations, universities would like to see an even greater expansion. But I am certain that they fully appreciate the very big improvements—not only the one to which I have referred but others which have been made in recent years.

§ Sir B. Janner
In view of the very unsatisfactory Answer by the Minister, I wish to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

§ 18. Mrs. Hart
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to the need immediately to increase the sum made available to the University Grants Committee for university expansion, in view of the limitation of medical and scientific research by shortage of money for increased staff, higher salaries, buildings and equipment.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
Substantial improvements in Exchequer support for the universities have recently been announced, and I have no further statement to make on this matter for the time being. I would remind the hon. Lady that it was announced some time ago that it is intended to review the level of recurrent grant next year.

§ Mrs. Hart
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his replies this afternoon on this subject reveal a degree of complacency which shows that the Government seem to have no awareness of the importance of this matter to the future of the country and of the universities? Is 256 he aware that the scale of the recent quinquennial grant to universities is so sparse that projects initiated some years ago by the Medical Research Council. which have had continuing support from the Council because the universities themselves could not finance them, are now in danger of being given up because the universities themselves cannot support them?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
The hon. Lady's statement that the Government's action and statements indicate a lack of interest in the universities simply does not measure up to the fact that we have trebled expenditure on the universities over the last 10 years.

§ Mr. Mitchison
Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that this shows the Government's failure to appreciate the national importance of scientific work and, secondly, the need for an increase in university facilities more than corresponding with the proposed increase in the number of students?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
If the hon. and learned Gentleman studies the improvements that have been made, he will realise that we are in the full flow of the biggest university expansion this country has ever undertaken.

§ 21. Mr. Sydney Irving
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has received from the University Grants Committee about curtailments in the development programme of universities because of the inadequacy of the grants announced last March.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
It is not the practice to disclose the communications passing between the University Grants Committee and the Government. The recurrent grants announced last March, however, only came into operation last summer, and this year's is 13 per cent. up on last year's, apart from what will be required for the recently announced salary increases.

§ Mr. Irving
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that subsequent to March the Universities of Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds, to name only a few, announced curtailments in their development plans and some of them said that there would be a standstill on admissions certainly by 1964? Is he satisfied that the new grant he has made will 257 allow these universities to go ahead with their expansion? Is he aware that if he does not make adequate funds available it will not be possible to achieve even the Government's target of 150,000 by 1966, which we and the universities think is already totally inadequate?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
I am satisfied that the grants already authorised—I have indicated that they are subject to review at a later stage—are fully sufficient to secure the Government's target.

§ Mr. Mitchison
In view of the national importance of this subject, is it not time that the Government came clean about financing the universities and told us what has been asked, what has been given, what more is needed, and stated the full figures instead of selecting the ones they think suit them?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
The figures I have given, though the 'hon. and learned Gentleman may not like them, are the figures of the money actually being made available, which show, as I have indicated, a very great improvement over what has ever been done before.

§ Mr. Hannan
Will the Minister confirm or deny the statement which is growing in currency that the chairman of the University Grants Committee, Sir Keith Murray, resigned by way of protest at the Government's paucity in this matter? The right hon. Gentleman referred us to the increasing programme that the Government have announced, but will he also bear in mind that there was a cut in the programme before? In view of the growing demand for places in Scotland and elsewhere, will he look into this matter with the greatest urgency?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
On the first point, I am glad to say that Sir Keith Murray, the chairman of the University Grants Committee, is still in post and will continue in post until he concludes his 10-year term some time this year.