HC Deb 23 May 1963 vol 678 cc607-8
1. Miss Quennell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Robbins Committee to make its Report on Higher Education.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster-General (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

We hope to receive the Report towards the end of the summer.

Miss Quennell

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, which is more encouraging than the reply that he gave me last time. Will he impress upon this Committee the anxiety with which all educationists await the publication of its Report, and do everything he can to ensure that we receive it this summer?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am sure that the Committee and its chairman are well aware of the anxiety of all of us to receive its Report. On the other hand, the House will be aware that this is one of the most important Reports affecting educational matters that will ever have been produced. An enormous amount of work is being done on it, and I am certain that it would be very wrong to try to hurry it up.

Sir T. Beamish

In view of the great importance of this question, can my right hon. Friend say whether there will be sufficient time between the receipt of the Report and the opening of Parliament for legislation to be foreshadowed in the Queen's Speech?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am afraid that I cannot go so far as that. It certainly will not be possible for publication to take place until the Summer Recess.