WELSH AND ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.
[To THE EDITOR. OP THE "SPECTITOR."1 SIR,—As a Life Governor of one of the English University Colleges, I have read with much interest the paragraph in last week's Spectator relating to the Report for 1909-10 of the Universities and University Colleges of Great Britain. On referring, however, to the Blue Book in which this report appears, I have been struck by the discrepancy between the grants in aid given to England and Wales respectively, and it seems desirable that the attention of the public should be
called to this.
Paragraph 25 reads :—
" The table shows that nearly 33 per cent. of the income of the English Colleges is derived from fees, about 15 per cent. from endowments, a little over 14.5 per cent. from grants from Local Education Authorities, and 28 per cent. from the Exchequer. In the case of the Welsh Colleges, nearly 25 per cent. of their total income is derived from fees, nearly 6 per cent. from endowments, 6 per cent. from Local Education Authority grants, and 53.5 per cent. from the Exchequer. It will be noticed that, as a result of the increased Treasury grant, the total annual income of the Welsh University Colleges has risen from about £50,000 to about .S65,000."
Also in paragraph 29 we are informed
"that the total number of students of all kinds for 1909-lb was returned as 22,187 in England and 1,710 for Wales. . . . The degree students show some increase in the great majority of the institutions concerned. The total numbers in England have risen from under 4,400 to nearly 4,900. In Wales the numbers have ino creased from 1,175 to 1,191. . . . The number of post-graduates is the English Universities and Colleges under review has grown from 1,052 to 1,255; while in Wales the number has fallen from 45 to 37."
In the light of the above facts it seems unjust that the Welsh Universities and Colleges should be more highly favoured in the matter of the Treasury grant than the English ; yet it would appear that in England the grant in aid amounts to £4 6s. per student, and in Wales to £118s.• Is it possible that these figures state the case correctly P If so it seems either that the English Universities and Colleges receive less than their due, or that those of Wales get con- siderably more than they should.—I am, Sir, &c., E. M. B.
Previous page
