HC Deb 02 June 1964 vol 695 cc902-3
23. Mr. W. Yates

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to publish the master plan for Dawley New Town; and what have been the results of his discussions with the New Town Corporation and the Secretary of State for Education and Science concerning the idea of creating a new university town and including it within the master plan.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. F. V. Corfield)

The Development Corporation hopes to publish its master plan towards the end of the year, and it is open to it to reserve land for a university site. The proposal for a university at Dawley will be considered in the first instance by the University Grants Committee, and until provisional conclusions have been reached discussion; on the lines suggested would be premature.

Mr. Yates

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that already on two previous occasions he has said that the University Grants Committee is considering the matter? Is he aware that the master plan is supposed to be ready in September? In view of the Robbins Report, can he intimate to me, the House and the country when a decision will be taken to include the university in the new town plan?

Mr. Corfield

I cannot give an indication of the date of the decision of the University Grants Committee, but I can assure my hon. Friend that I have no reason whatever to suppose that any delay by the Committee will in any way prejudice the proper planning of Dawley New Town.