§ 2.40 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have now consulted the other Commonwealth Governments about the Report of the Tweedsmuir Committee on the Imperial Institute, whether they have received the views of the new Board of Governors; and how soon they will be in a position to state their policy on the Committee's Report.]
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord De La Warr, I would refer the noble Earl to the reply which Lord De La Warr gave on December 17, 1952. Since that date the Board of Governors has been reconstituted, in agreement with the other Commonwealth Governments, whose representatives on the Board are, of course, in a position to express the views of their Governments on matters coming before it. The present Board of Governors, under the chairmanship of the noble Viscount, Lord Hudson, have been considering the future work of the Institute and their views are expected shortly. Meanwhile, the grant in aid for the Institute has been increased from £16,000 last year to £24,000 in the present financial year. The question of further consultation with the other Commonwealth Governments will arise after the views of the Board have been received.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Earl opposite for that reply. I fully appreciate that the delay between publication of the Report and a final decision on the part of Her Majesty's Government is bound to be a long one, on account of the need to consult other Commonwealth Governments. I would ask him, however, if he will be good enough to ask his noble friend to represent to the Minister of Education that, when a final decision has been taken on this matter, which is of so much importance both to this country and to other parts of the Commonwealth, it might be well to publish a White Paper giving the decision or, alternatively, to make a full statement in the House.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWI assure the noble Earl, with great pleasure, that of course the Governors' proposals will be studied as a matter of great urgency, in consultation, if necessary, with the Commonwealth Governments and I will pass on his views to the noble Earl, Lord De La Warr.
§ LORD OGMOREMay I ask a question on another important point, arising out of the Government's consideration of this matter: that is, what they have done, if anything, about the lodgers who are "squatting" on the premises of the Imperial Institute, to which reference was made (I see that the noble Viscount, Lord Hudson knows what I am talking about) in a debate which I think I initiated, and to which he has already referred.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWThe noble Lord did not give me notice of that question but I will certainly refer it to my noble friend Lord De La Warr and see that the noble Lord has an answer. Perhaps the noble Lord would care to put down another Question, or my noble friend would give him an answer in writing.