HC Deb 28 November 2002 vol 395 cc454-5
8. Mr. Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove)

What assessment he has made of progress towards the Government's target of 50 per cent. of young people participating in higher education by 2010. [819741

The Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education (Margaret Hodge)

Our latest estimate of participation in higher education in 2001–02 is 41.5 per cent. That could be revised upwards after the new census data are finalised and reflected. We need an increase of less than one percentage point each year to achieve our target.

Mr. Stunell

Since I tabled my question, the definition of the target has been changed yet again, for the fifth time. How long does the Minister expect the new target to be in place and can she explain how the House will ever know if it has been met?

Margaret Hodge

The simple answer is that the definition has not been changed and we are on course to meet our target.

John Cryer (Hornchurch)

Will the introduction of top-up fees make hitting the target less or more likely?

Margaret Hodge

Everything we do in the student funding review will be focused on ensuring that we get more and wider participation in higher education so that we can meet our target to promote inclusion and economic growth.

Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

Given what the Minister told the hon. Member for Hornchurch (John Cryer), will she guarantee that in no circumstances, as Government policy evolves, will anyone on or below average earnings be obliged to pay a top-up fee?

Margaret Hodge

Like others, the hon. Gentleman will have to wait until we publish our strategy document in January. I look forward to discussing with him then whether he has any better proposals to ensure that universities are properly funded and that all young people, whatever their backgrounds, have access to them.

Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North)

I thank my hon. Friend—indeed, I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his entire team—for their close personal interest in and support for my constituency, which contains fewer young people going to university that any other United Kingdom constituency. Is my hon. Friend aware that 30 local educationalists met last Friday to discuss the problem, and that we shall be sending her a report? Is she also aware that one of our key problems is a culture of under-achievement in which parents do not aspire for their children? Will she note the contents of the report, and will she consider visiting my constituency to discuss the future of our young people with local residents and with those educationalists?

Margaret Hodge

I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work he is doing in his constituency to raise aspirations among young people and to widen participation. I look forward to visiting his constituency and talking to those who have joined him in his attempt to deal with the culture that he has described. I recognise the difficult problem to which he refers—that if we cannot persuade more young people to aim higher and see university as an option for them and not just for others, we shall have failed. My hon. Friend has set himself a major challenge in his constituency, and I support his aims.

Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire)

What is the drop-out level in universities today, and what was it four years ago?

Margaret Hodge

I am proud to say that the level has been maintained at 17 per cent. I am proud that, of all countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, we have the best record for keeping people in the system and ensuring that they acquire qualifications and degrees. We are never satisfied or complacent with where we are at, but we are proud of our record. The hon. Gentleman should join me in congratulating universities and students on achieving what they set out to achieve.