HC Deb 16 February 1988 vol 127 c580W
51. Ms. Quin

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for safeguarding the independence of universities.

Mr. Jackson

The Government have no wish to see universities' proper freedoms eroded. Universities' substantial reliance on public funds means that the interests of the taxpayer have to be taken into account alongside desirable institutional autonomy. The right balance is being explored in debate during the Education Reform Bill's parliamentary passage.