Post-graduate Students (Facilities)

HC Deb 28 May 1963 vol 678 cc1094-5

7. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many full-time university and college of advanced technology post-graduate students make use of the facilities at the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, East Kilbride, the Radar Research Establishment at Malvern and the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough

Mr. Denzil Freeth

Although the facilities available at the National Engineering Laboratory have been made widely known, they have not yet been used by post-graduate students. I am glad to say that arrangements for closer co-operation between the Laboratory and the Royal College of Science and Technology at Glasgow are at present under discussion.

The position at the other two stations is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation.

Mr. Dalyell

What plans do the various Government Departments concerned—the hon. Gentleman's Office and the Ministry of Aviation—have for bringing together students to make fuller use of this highly sophisticated and expensive equipment?

Mr. Freeth

Certain universities permit post-graduates to spend part of their Ph.D courses away from the university at institutes where the particular nature of their work makes this desirable. I would hope that we might have an expansion of this type of activity, and doubtless this is one of the matters that the Robbins Committee will be considering.