HL Deb 16 January 1990 vol 514 cc518-20

2.46 p.m.

Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:

What mechanism they intend to use in order to maintain spending on acquisitions for university and polytechnic libraries when the special allocation agreed between the University Grants Committee, now the Universities Funding Council, and the Department of Education and Science for universities comes to an end in July 1990.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the special allocation was entirely the initiative of the University Grants Committee. As autonomous institutions, it continues to be for individual universities and polytechnics to decide their own priorities within the total resources at their disposal.

Baroness David

My Lords, as the Minister is no doubt well aware, I do not find that a very satisfactory Answer. Does he realise that universities spend infinitely less than they did in the equivalent terms of 1978 and 1979, that the figures for university spending on books and journals are down by 27 per cent. and 29 per cent. respectively since then, and that the figures for polytechnics are much worse? If the Government are serious about supporting International Literacy Year, I should have thought that to encourage spending on books for universities —where, after all, students are pretty hard pressed for spending on books —should be a major preoccupation.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, we went over that ground on 19th June in a similar Question from the noble Baroness. I do not think that she would expect me to bring any fresh answers today. The Government recognise the independence of our universities, and we certainly do not intend to take funding decisions for them. It is open to the funding councils to help, if they judge that appropriate. The Universities Funding Council has inherited a UGC initiative for a £9 million programme over the three years from 1987–88 for the purchase of books and periodicals. The first signs are that this initiative has helped to achieve an upturn in expenditure on libraries.

Lord Peston

My Lords, I am delighted to hear the noble Viscount say that the Government are keen on the independence of universities. When we discuss certain forthcoming legislation, I look forward to seeing some indication of that from the Government Front Bench. Recognising, as does his honourable friend the junior Minister in another place, that under-financing of university libraries has adversely affected research and scholarship, will the noble Viscount say whether it is the Government's view that, no matter what happens to library funding, they wish to wash their hands of the whole matter and will not intervene in any circumstances?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, universities and, following the Education Reform Act, polytechnics are autonomous institutions. It is for them to decide how to budget the substantial public and other funds at their disposal. Total provision available to higher education institutions in 1990–91 from the funding councils and publicly funded tuition fees will be some 10 per cent. higher than in 1989–90.

Baroness David

My Lords, is it not the case that students in this country spend very much less on books than do students in other European countries? Is there not all the greater need to have a good supply of library books as students cannot afford to buy the books that they need? I hope that the House supports the purchase of books.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I can only say to the noble Baroness that in many other countries they have student loans.

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