§ Mr. Philip Bellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to increase the recurrent grants to universities for the quinquennium 1957–62 which were announced by his predecessor on 14th March, 1957.
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Mr. AmoryThe University Grants Committee has recommended to me that the recurrent grants to universities for the last three years of the quinquennium should be increased on two grounds—unexpected increases in student numbers and increases in costs. At the time of the quinquennial settlement the universities envisaged that by 1961–62 the number of full-time students would rise to about 102,000. Recurrent grants for the quinquennium were fixed on that basis. It is now clear that this number will be greatly exceeded. In the current academic year, the figure will exceed the estimates by at least 6,500, and I am advised that the excess is likely to be even larger by the end of the quinquennium.
The universities are thus faced with a larger and more rapid expansion than was expected in addition to increased costs. They are responding to the best of their ability and their performance so far has exceeded expectations. Nevertheless, this has imposed a severe strain on them. I am satisfied that some further assistance should be given. Accordingly, I propose to ask Parliament to provide funds to enable the recurrent grants, as announced by my predecessor, for the last three years of the quinquennium to be increased by the following amounts:
£ 1959–60 … … … 2,550,000 1960–61 … … … 2,660,000 1961–62 … … … 2,720,000 These amounts are exclusive of the provision required to meet the cost of the improved salary scales announced by my predecessor on 12th March, 1957.