§ Mr. Radiceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the United Kingdom will accede to the convention establishing a European University Institute; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeIt is our intention to take steps to accede when the convention comes into force. The text of the convention would be laid in Parliament as a White Paper and subsequently an order would be laid under Section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 1972.
The European University Institute is to be a postgraduate institution for about 500 students in Florence. The Italian 243W Government are giving the building. All nine member States of the European Economic Communities will share the running expenses and support their own students. There is considerable interest in the institute in academic circles here, and I am anxious that the United Kingdom should play a full part in its development.