HC Deb 06 March 1969 vol 779 c655
16. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual recurrent cost of the Council for National Academic Awards; and how much of this is met by students' fees.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

I understand that in the last financial year the Council's total expenditure was £80,500, of which £52,000 was met by students' fees.

Mr. Hooley

Does my hon. Friend agree that the council is doing an extremely valuable job and is training the undergraduate equivalent of two full-time universities? What co-operation is there between the council and those responsible for organising the open university?

Mrs. Williams

In answering the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I should like to thank him for his encouragement, which will be appreciated by the C.N.A.A. It would be helpful if the House paid more attention to this fast-growing sphere of further education. To answer the second part, I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would table a Question because I should like to give him a full Answer, which I cannot do at present.