§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide additional funds from his Department to ensure that medical teaching and research is not reduced because of the implementation of Government policy on overseas students.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. As announced in Cmnd. 7746, "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1980–81", the resources available for higher education in 1980–81 will be about the same level for home students as in 1979–80. The distribution of this grant among universities is a matter for the UGC, while the distribution within each university is entirely a matter for the university itself.
So far as provision to the MRC from the science budget of the Department is concerned, I refer the right hon. Member 18W to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on the question of additional funds for that research council.
The Government's expenditure plans for the years after 1980–81 are still under consideration.