HC Deb 25 June 1963 vol 679 cc1107-9
6. Mr. Boyden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the urgency of recruiting additional university teachers to cope with increasing student numbers, what plans he is making to improve the scholarships and conditions of post-graduate students, and to increase their numbers.

Mr. Barber

Expansion of student numbers at universities and Colleges of Advanced Technology in recent years has been accompanied by a more than proportionate increase in the numbers of post-graduate students, and I have no doubt that this trend will continue. Its strength will depend among other factors on the universities themselves in making their plans for the development of post-graduate studies.

Mr. Boyden

Does not the hon. Gentleman appreciate that this is the group of people from whom teachers for the new universities are to be found, and that therefore this is of vital importance in the expansion of the universities? Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that generally awards for married post-graduate students, the remuneration they get for part-time teaching, and the accommodation that is provided, are totally inadequate for the expansion that we require?

Mr. Barber

Of course, I accept the importance of post-graduate university studies. The number of university staff increased from 12,921 to 13,824 between autumn 1961 and autumn 1962, that is, an increase of 7 per cent., while student numbers grew by 4.7 per cent. in the same period. On the second point raised by the hon. Gentleman, I would remind the House that the number of awards to post-graduate university students has risen from 1,143 in 1957 to 2,100 in the current academic year, and it will rise by well over 300 in the next academic year.

Mr. Callaghan

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this recital of statistics does not necessarily deal with the situation? Can he tell us whether any responsibility is laid on anyone to ensure that the group of undergraduates who will be going to universities over the next two or three years will find the teachers there, and whose responsibility it is to satisfy himself—and is it being carried out—that there will be a reasonable relationship between post-graduate students who have to teach and undergraduates who will be going to these expanding universities?

Mr. Barber

I am sorry if the hon. Gentleman does not like the statistics. I should have thought that they would have been welcome to anybody who had the well-being of universities at heart. In answer to the hon. Gentleman's point, perhaps I might give him two more statistics which I think will convince him that we are doing pretty well. The student-staff ratio has been maintained at very nearly the 1954–55 level. A figure of 10 to 1 for 1961–62 was an improvement on the figure for 1938–39.

Mr. Callaghan

With respect, that is not an answer to the question I asked. Everyone knows that there will be a substantial increase in the number of university undergraduates. I am asking whose responsibility it is to see that that increase will be reflected in the number of teachers? Has the hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that they will exist, and can he please tell us whether these undergraduates can look forward to proper training and teaching when they get to the universities?

Mr. Barber

I should have thought that this followed from the figures which I have given, because, as I have tried to point out, the staff-student ratio has improved.

Mr. Callaghan

indicated dissent.

Mr. Barber

it is no good the hon. Gentleman shaking his head. The facts which I have given are true.