University Students (Accommodation)

HC Deb 19 November 1974 vol 881 cc1083-4

6. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will inquire into the adequacy of present arrangements for enabling students to obtain accommodation in university cities.

Mr. Prentice

No, Sir, but a survey by the University Grants Committee last year showed that serious accommodation difficulties were confined to a few universities in large cities. A similar survey will be carried out this year.

Mr. Dalyell

Do the Government agree with the Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University that part of the difficulty was caused by misapprehensions about the working of the Rent Act and that landladies and potential landladies were unwilling to commit themselves? If that is so, what will be done about it?

Mr. Prentice

It is possible that there were misunderstandings about the effect of the Rent Act. The UGC and my Department are keeping a close watch on the effects of the Act on student accommodation. If my hon. Friend has specific instances in mind, I shall be grateful if he will write to me about them.

Mr. Rifkind

Does the Secretary of State accept that in the large cities to which he referred the crisis in student accommodation will continue as long as the universities accept students without reference to the ability of those cities to provide the accommodation for them? Does he accept the need for the universities to be instructed to take into account accommodation needs in determining the total number of students they will accept into their colleges?

Mr. Prentice

I expect all the universities closely to consult the local authorities and others in their area to try to solve the problems. Most of them do so with a great measure of success. There is a severe problem, particularly in some of the larger cities. It is not something that can be solved from the centre. It must be solved by people on the spot—local authorities, universities and others—getting together and discussing how best to meet the problem.

Mr. Hooley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the problem would be somewhat eased if students would accept reasonable lodgings instead of exercising their preference for rather scruffy and low-standard bed-sitters and flats?

Mr. Prentice

I want to make a slightly defensive reply. I do not think that it is for me to dictate to individual students what decisions they make about where they live.

Miss Fookes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, whatever the difficulties for university students, the position is even worse for those in polytechnics? What does he intend to do about that?

Mr. Prentice

It is true that the provision of residential accommodation for the polytechnic sector is on a much lower scale than for the university sector. The economic situation will inevitably mean that we make only slow progress in both categories in the years ahead. Part of the answer may well lie in a larger proportion of students living at home and attending institutions nearer their home. About 40 per cent. of students did so in the 1930s and now, I think, the figure is only 16 per cent. Part of the answer may lie in a reversal of that trend.