HC Deb 28 January 1964 vol 688 cc187-8
9. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science whether Her Majesty's Government accept the recommendation of the Robbins Committee that six new universities should be established at once; and if he will state where they will be situated.

22. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science, when he will state his decision regarding the siting of the six new universities.

Mr. Hogg

The decision to establish a new university in Scotland has already been announced. The other recommendations of the Robbins Committee on this subject are, as stated in the White Paper (Cmnd. 2165), being considered by the University Grants Committee and the Government in the formulation of the 10-year programme of university expansion. The question of location for the Scottish university will now be considered by the University Grants Committee.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is the Minister aware that the Robbins Committee recommended the establishment of these universities at once? If the right hon. and learned Gentleman can make a decision about Scotland, why cannot he make a decision about England and Wales? He must realise that any delay will mean that these projects will be put back for very many years. Can we not expect a decision from him—or is all this more Tory pie in the sky?

Mr. Hogg

The Robbins Committee recognised, and recommended, that matters of this kind should be submitted, first, to the University Grants Committee. That is the situation. I think that the hon. Member is mistaken in his reading of the actual Report. I agree that the summary of recommendations gives the impression that the hon. Member indicates, but if he will turn up the relevant passage in the Report he will see that it is clear that the need could not be settled until inquiries to the existing universities about their potential have been made, and that … initiative is needed in the next few years. The last phrase is a quotation from the Report.

Mr. D. Jones

Will the Minister consider siting one of the new universities in North-East Lancashire or the West Riding? Question No. 6 is about land for universities, and in that connection I would direct the Minister's attention to the areas to which I am referring, where there is land—and in very attractive surroundings.

Mr. Hogg

I understand that there are at least 50 sites in respect of which there are applications pending in one form or another. They will all be considered, but in the first instance by the University Grants Committee.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is the Minister aware that paragraph 476 of the Robbins Report reads: We therefore recommend the formation of six new universities in addition to those now in process of formation … The steps needed to establish these universities should be begun at once"—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I appreciate the difficulty, but verbatim quotation is out of order in a supplementary question.

Mr. Stonehouse

Does the Minister accept in detail the recommendations in paragraph 476, or is he continuing to be evasive about the matter?

Mr. Hogg

I can tell the hon. Gentleman quite unevasively that the matter was referred to the University Grants Committee in accordance with the constitutional procedure.

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