§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Association of University Teachers about the funding of universities in 1986–87.
§ Mr. WaldenMy right hon. Friend has received two letters from the Association of Universities Teachers about the funding of universities and the pay of academic staff. He hopes to meet representives of the association shortly. I spoke at a meeting of the association's council on 16 May and met members of the association Executiver on 12 June; on both occasions I took note of their concerns about funding and pay.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West, of 17 June, Official Report, column 513, what criteria were used by the University Grants Committee to determine the change to a common funding basis as the single important factor in determining the size of the allocations to universities.
§ Mr. WaldenI understand that the University Grants Committee did not decide in advance that its adoption of a common funding basis for students in each subject group should be the most important factor influencing changes in the grant allocation to individual universities. That was an outcome of the committee's new resource allocation arrangements, not a predetermined intent.