§ 3. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of the Swann Committee Report, he will review the scale of support for post-graduate training leading primarily to academic research, and consider alternative kinds of post-graduate awards aimed at widening the scientific and technological outlook, those involving closer liaison between universities and industry in the form of joint appointments, those of an inter-disciplinary nature relevant to industry, and those primarily for potential school teachers, involving scope for research.
§ The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Anthony Crosland)Yes, Sir. Even before the Swann Committee had produced its valuable Report, the Science Research Council had already introduced its industrial studentships and science and industry awards. The Council's policy on post-graduate training, with particular reference to closer collaboration between universities and industry, is now being reviewed by a Working Party under Lord Halsbury. Meawhile I am asking all the research councils for their views on the Swann Report.
§ Mr. DalyellDoes my right hon. Friend's Answer mean that we really do have an assurance that there will be sustained progress chasing on this valuable Report and that it will not be relegated to some musty file?
§ Mr. CroslandI can give that assurance absolutely. This is a subject to which a number of recent Reports have drawn attention—the Arthur Report, the Bosworth 1508 Report, as well as the Swann Report, and I can give an absolute assurance that some parts of the Report have already been anticipated by the Science Research Council and that there will be very consistent progress chasing indeed.