§ 3. Tony Cunningham (Workington)What progress is being made in the provision of higher education in west Cumbria. [135234]
§ The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (Alan Johnson)A project board chaired by Sir Brian Fender is currently considering higher education in Cumbria. The group was formed following the publication of the review of higher education in Cumbria. Its task is to produce a strategic plan for the development of higher education in Cumbria early next spring. Working groups are 422 considering marketing, communications and estate issues and the subject supply and demand across the region.
§ Tony CunninghamI am delighted that serious progress is being made towards a university in Cumbria. Will my right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State takes a personal interest in that serious and desperately needed project? If necessary, will they meet a delegation from west Cumbria?
§ Alan JohnsonI can assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will take a close interest in the project. There is a specific problem in Cumbria and that was the reason for forming the working group and publishing the report last February. I should be happy to receive a delegation.
§ Mr. Tim Boswell (Daventry)I have taken an interest in higher education in west Cumbria for a long time. Does the Minister acknowledge that it is essential to encourage potential students to enrol? Has he noted the conclusions of the recent NatWest "Money Matters" study that 46 per cent. of students in the north-west, including Cumbria, compared with 33 per cent. elsewhere—that is bad enough—are more likely to have thought twice about going to university because of tuition fees? His message is not of lifelong learning but lifelong debt.
§ Alan JohnsonI hope that the hon. Gentleman was not plodding around with the students on Sunday in a vain attempt to look hip and groovy. He would have been better off at home with a mug of tea, listening to the omnibus edition of "The Archers".
The question of enrolment is extremely important. According not to us but to the Higher Education Policy Institute, under the Conservatives' plans we would lose nearly half a million university places by 2010. The sensible and constructive debate should be on how we handle investment and expansion, in contrast to the policy of Her Majesty's official Opposition, which is to take money out of higher education and reduce the opportunities available.