§ 24. Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to encourage suitable persons to enter the field of educational research.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe commissions my right hon. Friend is making from his research fund have led to the creation of a number of new research posts at various levels. In addition, my right hon. Friend has approached the University Grants Committee about strengthening staff and equipment in universities for general educational research. As a result, the Committee has recently offered certain universities recurrent grants for this purpose, provision for which was made in the increased grants announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9th May. The recruitment of staff is of course a matter for the universities themselves, but the Committee feels sure, as does my right hon. Friend, that the resulting new posts will attract more first class people to a career in educational research.
§ Mr. IrvingWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the first requirement is a willingness to spend more money on educational research? At present we are spending a very small fraction of 1 per cent. of our total expenditure on education on research. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, after money, the biggest bottleneck is the supply of personnel? In view of the difficulties of recruitment, training, and the establishment of career prospects, and in view of the need to integrate these people into the education service, will not be set up a committee to review this problem, or refer it to one of his advisory bodies?
§ Mr. ChatawayI will certainly refer the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to my right hon. Friend. The hon. Gentleman will have noticed that the sums spent upon research have been increasing. My right hon. Friend sees clearly the need here, both for appropriate training arrangements and for a better career structure. 1648 My right hon. Friend is not resting on what has been done, but a promising start has been made.