HC Deb 11 March 1965 vol 708 cc604-5
14. Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the expanding opportunities for work in this field, he will now review the decision of his predecessor to limit the grants to the Workers' Educational Association and university extramural departments and thus make possible an expansion of their activities.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Anthony Crosland)

Yes, Sir. I propose to make additional funds available to the Workers' Educational Association and the university extramural departments for more full-time tutor posts and for the expansion of part-time work and this decision is being conveyed to them today.

Mr. Park

Is the Minister aware that his Answer will cause a great deal of relief and pleasure to those concerned with the work on adult education, and that he is now providing opportunities, which the previous Government failed to provide, for the extension of this very important sphere of education?

Mr. Crosland

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend. Like many other hon. Members on this side of the House, I have had a long connection with the W.E.A. and I was determined that we should do something for it although it is not all that I should like to do.

Sir E. Boyle

Is not it the fact that the previous Government provided 12 extra tutors for the 1963–64 Estimates and that in the course of the last Parliament the amount of extra expenditure went up by sonic hundreds of thousands of £s, I think by 40 per cent.? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was our intention to look at the matter again in the coming year?

Mr. Crosland

The fact remains that, so far as current expenditure is concerned, 1964–65 saw a complete standstill on the year before and it is that standstill which this Government are now reversing.

Mr. Jennings

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any estimate or figure of comparative increases in these extra grants compared with the previous year's expenditure?

Mr. Crosland

Yes, Sir. This increased expenditure on W.E.A. and extramural departments will be about £60,000 higher next year compared with this year. Of that, about £30,000 is due to automatic increases in prices and salaries and £30,000 represents a genuine expansion of their work.