§ 58. Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make available the correspondence exchanged between him and the 945 Chairman of the Social Service Research Council on the shortage of places for postgraduate students in planning and management; if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of those bodies who have made representations to him on this subject; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Shirley Williams)The number of grants for postgraduate students in planning and management is one of a number of questions covered in recent correspondence with the Chairman of the Social Science Research Council about the transfer of responsibility for postgraduate awards from local to central government. I see no reason to publish it. The results of a survey by the Council indicate that a larger number of grants for students in management were made by local education authorities in each of the years 1967–68 and 1968–69 than the number shown in returns made by authorities in 1967–68. Representations have been received from the National Economic Development Office, Town Planning Institute and a number of individuals, in addition to the Social Science Research Council. I am reconsidering the number of awards for the social sciences and hope to reach a decision soon.
§ Mr. MoonmanThis is a most serious matter. In view of the natural relationship between Government and industrial performance and management training, would my hon. Friend indicate what steps she is prepared to take to stimulate matters so that this situation does not happen again?
§ Mrs. WilliamsI have no control over the fact that the estimates of local authorities differed from those of universities. These are not matters for my Department directly, but because of the discrepancy my Department is now considering what help can be given as quickly as possible to make more bursaries available.