HC Deb 02 February 1948 vol 446 cc232-3W
96. Mr. K. Lindsay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken to carry out the recommendations of the Scarborough Report.

Mr. McNeil

As the answer is necessarily long and detailed I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

As was stated in another place on the 25th June, 1947, considerable progress has been made.

Since that date, the following steps have been taken. Another committee has been set up to consider the award of postgraduate studentships, in accordance with Recommendation 8 (iv) of the Report. The recommendations of this Committee have been accepted by the Treasury and it is hoped that a pamphlet giving full information for prospective candidates will be published before the end of February. The Committee will be prepared to consider applications from candidates who wish to commence their studies in the summer term of this year but most universities will not be able to accept students until the beginning of the new academic year.

The following grants have so far been approved under Recommendation 8 (i).

By the Committee on Oriental and African studies—£55,000.

By the Committee on Slavonic and Eastern European studies—15,225.

These grants have been approved in response to requests from the Universities in respect of new teaching and research posts in the subjects covered by the Report. The Universities have been asked to submit proposals for further new posts during the remaining four years of the Committee's first quinquennium. No proposals have been received from the Universities as regards grants under Recommendations 8 (i) and 8 (ii) of the Report, which deal with capital expenditure and travelling expenses.

Recommendation 7 of the Report concerned the British Schools abroad. During the current year, the following grants have been made to these schools:—

  • British School at Athens—£3,000.
  • Egypt Exploration Society—£3,000.
  • British School in Iraq—£3,000.
  • British Institute of Archaelogy in Turkey—£5,000.

The question of establishing an Oriental centre in London is still under consideration by a working party under Treasury chairmanship.