§ 6. Mr. Boydenasked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science, in view of the need for the rapid expansion of many universities, what steps he is taking to allow them to acquire land more speedily.
§ Mr. HoggLocal authority powers of compulsory purchase may be used to acquire land for university purposes.
§ Mr. BoydenIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this answer is not good enough? Has he any objection in principle to the universities themselves being given the power to acquire land?
§ Mr. HoggThere are arguments on both sides which I can hardly deploy at Question Time. Obviously, compulsory powers normally need to be used either by a Minister responsible to Parliament or by a democratically elected local authority.
§ Mr. CrossmanWould the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider the possibility of the reconstituted U.G.C. having one of its committees dealing with land purchase? Is not one of the essential factors having funds centrally available so that such purchases can be made in due course?
§ Mr. HoggI do not want to exclude any possibilities of this kind, and I will certainly consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. But, as I have said, there are arguments on both sides, and the whole question of planning must be considered in the selection of sites.