HC Deb 14 January 1964 vol 687 cc21-2
32. Dr. King

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what emergency action the Government propose to take to train the extra number of university teachers required for the critical years 1965 and 1966.

The Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science (Mr. Quintin Hogg)

The availability of university teachers depends to a large extent on the number of post-graduate students, and the Government proposes to make available substantially more postgraduate awards for the next academic year than were made this year.

Dr. King

Is the Minister—whose keen interest in education we all appreciate—aware that the most urgent of all the great needs in higher education is to provide this year the training of a number of extra university teachers to cope with the expanding population in the universities from the critical year 1965–66, and will he give his personal attention to this aspect?

Mr. Hogg

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Callaghan

In view of his great interest in higher education, can the Minister tell us for how much longer it will be in order to put down Questions for him to answer on this subject?

Mr. Hogg

I understand that the hon. Gentleman is anticipating a Question to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister which already stands on the Order Paper.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the Minister's first Answer apply to teachers in the sciences, and, if so, what relation does it bear to the valuable work which is being done at Dounreay in Scotland? Does he propose to extend or diminish that work, in the public interest?

Mr. Hogg

It does apply to science. The question has no relation to the work going on at Dounreay.

Forward to