HC Deb 14 May 1964 vol 695 cc96-8W
38. Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the names of the members of the Committee of the Privy Council to which the petition for the grant of a charter to the proposed University of Strathclyde stands referred; and how many of these members have experience of education in Scotland.

Mr. Hogg

The reference to a Committee of the Privy Council is in this case simply a formal description for the customary process of consultation between Ministers. In this case, as in all cases for the grant of Charters to institutes in Scotland, the Ministers concerned included—in addition to myself and the Minister of State for Education and Science—the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Lord Advocate.

39. Mr. Malcolm MacPherson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration the Committee of the Privy Council, to which the petition for the grant of a charter to the proposed University of Strathclyde stands referred, is giving to the distinctive requirements of a technological university and to the desirability of avoiding too uniform a structure of university government and curriculum in Scotland.

Mr. Hogg

I have no doubt both points were taken into account by the petitioners and the Academic Advisory Committee in preparing their draft charter. The Privy Council Committee will take into account these and all relevant considerations.

40. Mr. Hannan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the names of the bodies and individuals who have made representations to the Committee of the Privy Council, to which the petition for the grant of a charter to the proposed University of Strathclyde stands referred; and if he will state the nature of the various representations made.

Mr. Hogg

Representations have been made by the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and by the Committee of the Association of University Teachers (Royal College of Science and Technology). In the absence of authority from the bodies concerned I consider that I should regard representations of this kind as confidential.

41. Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects an announcement to be made about approval of the charter of the proposed University of Strathclyde.

Mr. Hogg

I hope that the draft Charter will be ready for submission before the end of June.