§ Mr. Will Owenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to the report on students' co-operative dwellings, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will seek powers to provide suitable places for students to live in at a price they can afford; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsMy right hon. Friend will study carefully the report on Student Co-operative Dwellings which he has just received and will write to my hon. Friend about it as soon as he can. My right hon. Friend and I are aware, as are the institutions concerned, that students are anxious about the level of hostel charges and we recently had some discussion about this with a deputation from the N.U.S. Universities and other institutions of higher education already provide residential accommodation by various means, and some interest302W ing experimental schemes are now in progress. At universities alone the number of students in residence increased from about 32,000 in 1961–62 to over 70,000 in 1967–68 and may further increase to about 80,000 by 1971–72.