§ 9. Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the last month concerning future expenditure plans for the universities; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend and I have received a small number of representations about various aspects of the Government's expenditure plans for universities. In response we have explained that the planned levels of expenditure for the next three financial years, announced in my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 30 November, will require a measure of increased economy if standards are to be maintained.
§ Mr. HamiltonHas the Minister read the letter in The Times today from Professor Harvie referring to the Gradgrind approach to higher education by the Government, and notably to the Open University, which has suffered severely under the Government? Does he recognise that Glasgow university has had to cut by 20 per cent. its full-time staff, including more than 250 of its academic staff? Will he answer the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson)? Will he assure us that the pharmacy department the Heriot-Watt university will not close?
§ Mr. BrookeI have spent today writing letters to The Guardian rather than reading letters in The Times. Of course, the Open University does not come under the UGC. Since I appreciate that, at the rate we are going we may not reach question 17, let me give the House the answer that I would in due course have given——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not think the Minister should do that.
§ Mr. HamiltonSpecifically, on the threatened closure of the pharmacy department——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I think perhaps I interrupted the Minister. Had he given his answer? We cannot have the answer to question 17 now.
§ Mr. Terry DavisGiven that there is legitimate public concern about the way in which money is spent, as well as about the amount that is available for higher education, while no one on the Opposition side of the House wants disciplinary action to be taken against students for extracurricular activities, does the Minister not think that there is a case, in view of the racist filth contained in the magazine published by students in the medical school of Guy's hospital, for someone having a quiet word with the dean of the medical school, pointing out that he is supposed to be training doctors to serve a multiracial society in this country and abroad, not doctors whose idea of humour seems to make them better fitted for employment at Auschwitz and Dachau?
§ Mr. BrookeI personally find the racist references in the magazine to which the hon. Member has referred as unpleasant as he does. However, the remedy does not lie with me. The matter falls to be dealt with under the general law relating to the publication and distribution of obscene or racist material.
Later:—
§ Mr. Home RobertsonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In reply to my supplementary question — I think it was in order—about the cut in grant to the pharmaceutical department at Heriot-Watt university the Minister said that he would answer my question when he replied to question No. 17. My hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) raised precisely the same supplementary question and the Minister was about to reply when you, ruled that it would not be appropriate for him to do so since the question appeared later on the Order Paper. With great respect, that seems to be a little restrictive because, if pursued to its logical conclusion, we would never again be able to ask a supplementary question on an issue that appeared in a subsequent question. Will you, Mr. Speaker, clarify the position?
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall gladly clarify that. It would have been in order had the Minister not announced that he would answer the subsequent question on the Order Paper.