§ 16. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received since taking office on the problems facing the universities; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. MulleyThe main representations received have been about university finance, the position of universities within higher education, university teachers' salaries and students' grants. In my replies I have done my best to give information requested and explain the policies.
§ Mr. LaneApart from that, has the Secretary of State's attention been drawn to what was said recently by the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors about the decline in confidence and the loss of morale of those working in the universities? What do the Government intend to do to improve this deplorable situation?
§ Mr. MulleyYes, Sir. Words such as "loss of morale" are used quite easily, but sometimes it is difficult to understand what is fully involved. Obviously the university teachers are concerned, as is everyone, at having to abandon or defer plans for expansion because of economic stringency. It is also the case that the number of students has not measured up to the expectations of some years ago. That means that a number of posts are not being filled. It also happened, through a mischance concerning dates, that the university teachers did not get as large an increase as they hoped to receive, measured, for example, against the increase awarded to teachers in polytechnics. They had their arbitration award and they have been offered the £6 a week under the new policy, but unhappily their dates fell outside previous arrangements whereby a higher cost-of-living increase might have been obtained. There is a combination of factors, but in any area at present there is great concern because we have to take into account the current economic situation.
§ Mr. CroninIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is now widespread anger among university teachers about the way in which they have been treated over the past few months in respect of their pay claims? Will my right hon. Friend ensure that the present arbitration award is expedited as much as possible, and that Part II claims receive just recognition from the Government?
§ Mr. MulleyThe arbitration award will be paid. That was provided for in the White Paper. Obviously I cannot suggest that university teachers should be exempt from the Government's policy—which is widely recognised—of a £6 maximum in the current year. Although I was not involved at the time last October, after the statutory limit on pay increases had ended, the university teachers 1124 accepted a settlement on the expired statutory basis.
§ Mr. GrimondWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the universities have put before him any statement of what they think their resources should be, how they think the pay of university teachers should be assessed, and which areas of research are being starved by present Government policy?
§ Mr. MulleyI do not think that any areas are being starved. It may well be that the rate of expansion in some areas is not as high as those involved would like to see. Of course, this matter covers quite a wide spectrum. At a time of economic stringency we have to restrain every kind of expansion. We have not had proposals concerning academic salaries because, unhappily, university salaries were not part of the Houghton review. I think that when there is a different pay situation facing the nation, this is a matter to which we shall have to return.