§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can yet ease, in any way, the present restrictions on the development of post-school education.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have decided to make a small increase in the non-university further education building programme for278W 1974–75 as announced on 27th March, and I will be getting in touch shortly with the local education authorities concerned. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland proposes to take broadly similar action.
Secondly, the Government are now ready to open discussions on the recommendations of the Russell Report on Adult Education. As a first step I propose to consult the local authority associations to see what progress we can make together in the development of the adult education service, especially in respect of the disadvantaged, within the constraints dictated by our present economic difficulties. When we have decided how to move in this direction the next step will be to undertake wider discussions with the main interests in the field with a view to developing, within the resources available, a varied and comprehensive service of adult education.
We are also conscious of the need for positive action to combat adult illiteracy. The Government are prepared to make additional resources available in the next 12 months to help institutions working in this field and I shall shortly be initiating discussions as to how these may best be used.
Thirdly, the universities' costs increased more steeply during 1973 than had been assumed when the decision was taken, as part of last year's expenditure cuts, to withhold supplementation of their grants for the academic year 1974–75. To help them in this difficulty I have agreed to make an addition of £4 million to their funds for recurrent expenditure in that year.