§ 12. Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated public expenditure on grants for university and other full-time further education during the financial years 1957–58, 1962–63, 1966–67 and 1967–68.
§ Mr. CroslandSince the Answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL. REPORT.
§ Mr. BiffenCan the right hon. Gentleman confirm that this is a large and growing figure, and that the growth is likely to continue? In these circumstances, can he say if he is sympathetically considering the replacement of grants by loans for both pre- and post-graduate studies?
§ Mr. CroslandThe figure is certainly large and growing, and it must be right for any Government to try to find reasonable economies wherever they can. Student support is only one part of the total expenditure. I have made my views clear about this in the past. The Government have no present intention of introducing loans, certainly not instead of grants, nor even in supplement of grants. Unfortunately, given the growing rate of expenditure, this is something which cannot be excluded from serious public discussion.
§ Mr. HefferWould my right hon. Friend exclude this possibility for ever, because there are many working class people who would be faced with extreme difficulty if this suggestion was adopted?
§ Mr. CroslandI am very conscious of the importance of the point that my hon. Friend puts, which is one of the crucial arguments in the whole discussion. I do not think that I can guarantee to exclude something for ever, because I have no doubt that I shall not he here for ever.