HC Deb 21 January 1964 vol 687 cc900-2
24. Mr. Swingler

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will now make a detailed statement on future capital and recurrent grants to universities.

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

I hope to be able to make a full statement shortly.

Mr. Swingler

What has happened to the crash programme? Did not the right hon. and learned Gentleman, when he was in another place, hear Lord Robbins himself say that it was absolutely urgent for the Government to give an assurance to universities that they would get the finance if we were to have immediately, this next year, the increase in university places and the expansion which his Committee wanted? Is it not clear that the dilly-dallying and failure of the Government to make the necessary decisions immediately means that there will probably not be the expansion in the number of places needed next year?

Mr. Hogg

The assurance has been given. What the hon. Gentleman asked for in his Question was a detailed statement.

Mr. Swingler

Does that mean that the Government have said to the universities that they can have a blank cheque for whatever expansion they require to increase the number of places as advised by the Robbins Report and that the Government assure them that they will have the necessary finance for the purpose? Is that the position?

Mr. Hogg

When one says that resources will be available for a given target, one does not sign a blank cheque.

Mr. Crossman

Can the Lord President of the Council give us a little more information? He said that he would be able to tell us more at an early date. Does that mean a matter of days, of weeks or of months?

Mr. Hogg

If I had been able to give more precise information in my original Answer, I should have done so.

Mr. Crossman

Does that mean that, although the Government welcomed the Robbins Report and the crash programme, after more than three months, owing to a bicker between two Ministers, no statement of Government policy can be made?

Mr. Hogg

It means nothing of the kind. The universities were asked to put in their preliminary proposals, in the light of the Government's acceptance of the Robbins Report, by the end of November last. These were prepared by each university individually, and co ordination between individual statements is necessary. This work is pro- ceeding urgently. I do not think that the time taken is excessive.

Mr. Swingler

In view of the answers given, I beg to give notice that I shall urgently seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.