§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the light of the publication of the Interim Report on University Development, Command Paper No. 1691, which reveals the inadequacy of university facilities, and in order to preserve university standards of accommodation, teaching and research during the period of expansion, he will now increase the grants to universities beyond the level at present proposed.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Interim Report draws attention, amongst other things, to the very large increases in the level of both recurrent and non-recurrent grants which have taken place over the first four years of the present quinquennium to assist the universities. The 107W greatly increased recurrent grants which I have announced for the next five years, together with the present programme of university building starts, represent a further large growth in the level of Exchequer assistance.
I have already said that in my view it would be right to review the university financial situation in, say, two years' time, in the light of how the expansion was going forward, how prices were moving, and how the long-term economic outlook had developed.