§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science whether, in view of the fact that under the present system universities select students for admission by a method which favours applicants from public schools, he will introduce legislation to ensure that admission into universities is given to all applicants with the necessary qualifications.
§ Mr. HoggIn paragraph 4 of Cmnd. 2165 the Government have already accepted the principle that courses of higher education should be available for all those who are qualified by ability128W and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so. This principle is to be achieved by the expansion targets set by the Robbins Report and not by legislation interfering with the freedom of autonomous academic bodies. I reject the imputation as to the university selection procedures contained in the Question as inaccurate and unfair to the bodies concerned.