PM to speak at Cambridge

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is set to speak at yet another alma mater, this time at Cambridge University. Singh, who did his masters from the university, has agreed to deliver a speech there when he visits the United Kingdom between October 9-11 this year.

The university will confer an honorary doctorate on Singh. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is the chancellor of the university, will bestow the honorary doctor of law degree on Singh at a congregation of Regent House of the University of Cambridge on October 11.

Sources said the engagement had been agreed to as Singh had spoken at Oxford University when he visited the UK for the G-8 meet last July. He had also received an honorary degree from the university.

"The prime minister did his masters from Cambridge and PhD from Oxford University. He is fond of both. Therefore he decided to visit Cambridge this time," said a top official.

During Singh's last visit, the UK was in the middle of handling the aftermath of the 7/7 blasts. Nevertheless, his speech at Oxford got a lot of play because of his generous praise of the British empire and its contribution to modern India.

According to official sources, Singh will hold talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

The same day, the two leaders will address an India-UK Investment Summit at Lancashire House that will be attended by leading businessmen and industrialists of the two countries.