§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will try to improve the standard of lecturing and methods of instruction in universities by the provision of short-term training courses for all lecturing staff.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, it is for the university authorities to decide what qualifications and experience are appropriate in those they appoint to academic posts.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that reply, I feel that it is somewhat unsatisfactory—
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Question!
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, I was just going to ask one. Does the noble Baroness think that the Government are right to stand aside when so much taxpayers' money is being spent on university education? Further, I should like to ask whether the noble Baroness is aware that a major cause of discontent among students at the moment concerns the poor quality of lectures?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, in reply to the first part of the noble Lord's question, I am sure he would agree that colleges of education and universities, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for their own staff appointments. That is an essential feature of our traditional academic freedom. In regard to the second part of the question, I am not sure that some of the criticism which has been advanced is coming from people who are 592 in a satisfactory position to know what constitutes a good teacher.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, does the noble Baroness realise that universities tend to be traditional and that in many cases, even though the Chancellor and others may wish to make changes, they need some encouragement and help from outside sources?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I take the point advanced by the noble Viscount, but I must repeat that there is academic freedom and within the universities themselves there exist channels to deal with these matters.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Hale Committee was set up by the University Grants Committee and, so far as I know, all universities have paid attention to their recommendations?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSYes, my Lords, that is so. I shall return to the matter when we reach the noble Viscount's second Question.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discourage the appointment of persons as lecturing staff in universities before they have gained some experience outside a university.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, there is a need for initial training for university staff, but the means by which this is done is for the universities themselves to decide. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science welcomes the training schemes which they are initiating.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her reply.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, may I congratulate the Government on resisting the invitation which has been extended? May I ask whether it is reasonable, since we are limited to four Questions in any one day, that two questions should be put down for which the Government patently have no responsibility whatever? 593 I cannot believe that this would be allowed in another place.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, in the same way that I cannot answer for universities, I do not think that I can answer as to the Standing Orders on the arrangement of Business.