§ Mr. Woodasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has had to his letter to the chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of 9 May about the limitation of academic tenure in the universities.
§ Sir Keith JosephFollowing is the reply I have received from the chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals. In the light of it the Government now propose, when the parliamentary timetable allows, to introduce legislation to achieve the objectives set out in my letter of 9 May, published at columns452–454 of the Official Report. I shall be initiating early consultations on the form and content of such legislation.
Dear Keith
In my acknowledgement of your letter of 9 May about the issue of academic tenure I said that we would wish to study the problems within the Committee after which I would write to you again. This we have now done.
It is evident in the light of the most recent enquiry we made of all Vice-Chancellors and Principals that the majority do not believe their institutions could bring about the changes you envisage by their own volition within the timescale you have in mind. There are a few, however, who wish to proceed independently.
In the circumstances it now remains for you to decide what you want to do. We shall expect to be consulted further when you have reviewed the matter.
Yours ever
Brian