HL Deb 23 June 1998 vol 591 cc207-8

129 After Clause 27, insert the following new clause—

UNAUTHORISED USE OF "UNIVERSITY" IN TITLE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, ETC

(".—(1) A relevant institution in England or Wales shall not, when making available (or offering to make available) educational services, do so under a name which includes the word "university" unless the inclusion of that word in that name is—

  1. (a) authorised by or by virtue of any Act or Royal Charter, or
  2. (b) approved by the Privy Council for the purposes of this section.

(2) A person carrying on such an institution shall not, when making available (or offering to make available) educational services through the institution, use with reference either to himself or the institution a name which includes the word "university" unless the inclusion of that word in that name is authorised or approved as mentioned in subsection (1).

(3) Subsection (1) or (2) applies where the educational services are made available, or (as the case may be) the offer to make such services available is made, in any part of the United Kingdom.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) or (2) the inclusion of the word "university" in any name shall not be taken to be authorised by or by virtue of a Royal Charter relating to a university by reason of any provision of the Charter with respect to—

  1. (a) the affiliation or association of other institutions to the university, or
  2. (b) the accreditation by the university of educational services provided by other institutions.

(5) In approving the inclusion of the word "university" in any name for the purposes of this section the Privy Council shall have regard to the need to avoid names which are or may be confusing.

(6) The Privy Council's power of approval under subsection (1) or (2) shall not be exercisable in a case where the inclusion of the word "university" in the name in question may be authorised by virtue of any other Act or any Royal Charter.

(7) In this section— relevant institution" means an institution within the further education sector or the higher education sector as defined by section 91(3) or (5) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; university", in the context of the reference in subsection (4) to a Royal Charter relating to a university, has the meaning given by section 90(3) of that Act.").

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 129. I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 130, 139, 147 and 151.

These amendments implement recommendations of the Dearing Report. Unfortunately, some institutions are using unofficial titles such as "university college" which have no clear meaning and are confusing to students and others. The Dearing Committee recommended action to put an end to this confusion. The amendments will prevent institutions in the further and higher education sectors in England and Wales from using unauthorised titles including the word "university".

The Dearing Committee also believed there was a place for a new category of "University College" for higher education institutions which fall short of full university status but have the power to award their own degrees. The Government accepted this recommendation but there are some technical obstacles to implementing it under the present legislation in England and Wales. The amendments remove these obstacles.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 129.—(Baroness Blackstone.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.