HC Deb 08 March 1982 vol 19 cc600-2
36. Mr. Murphy

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the arrangements within the precincts of the House relating to research assistants.

Mr. Pym

As I explained to the House on Thursday, I have arranged for inquiries to be made into all aspects of the matter.

Mr. Murphy

Will my right hon. Friend consider in that inquiry examining the desirability of foreign students acting as research assistants to obtain credits in overseas degree courses, in effect at the taxpayers' expense?

Mr. Pym

Yes, I shall go into this matter carefully in the inquiry, which will take a few weeks. I do not have the facts and particulars at the moment but I shall consider them when I have all the information that I need.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Is it not scandalous, with 3 million unemployed, that hon. Members should be using the free services of foreign nationals as research assistants? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it rings a bit hollow for some hon. Members to criticise the Government's youth opportunities scheme—which at least pays those young people some money—while they are using the services of these foreign nationals free?

Mr. Pym

That is one opinion, and I have no doubt that there are many others, but I think that it would be better to establish the facts first.

Sir David Price

Does my right hon. Friend agree that whatever may be the value of these young people they should not be described as research assistants, as I am not aware that any of them make any contribution to known knowledge.

Mr. Pym

A number of allegations of that kind have been made and have led me to take an interest in this matter. As a result, inquiries will be made.