21. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the effect of the restrictions on capital spending on the university building programme.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerCapital expenditure will be reduced by £0.75 million in 1968 –69 and £2.5 million in 1969 –70. it is for the University Grants Committee to decide how best to secure these savings.
Mr. TaylorIs it not short-sighted madness to cut the university building programme? How can the Minister justify the Government's throwing away millions of pounds on pointless nationalisation schemes when depriving the nation of qualified manpower in this way?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerPart of that supplementary question was wholly irrelevant to the other part. When we were having to scrutinise central Government expenditure so carefully and make certain savings it would have been wrong to exempt universities altogether. I do not think that the universities will find this very troublesome. I am sure that it will not lead to a reduction in the number of students, and that with slightly better and more intensive use of their capital equipment the universities will be able to accommodate under the new arrangements the flow of students going to university.