§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance(a) she and (b) the Higher Education Funding Council have issued to Oxford and Cambridge universities on admission policy with regard to the (i) social class origins and (ii) schools attended by undergraduate students; and if she will make a statement. [60131]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 11 June 2002]Neither my right hon. Friend nor the Funding Council have issued guidance specifically to Oxford or Cambridge universities on these matters. However, my right hon. Friend's letter to the Funding Council (29 November 2001) made it clear that all universities, particularly those significantly below their benchmarks for participation by under-represented groups, need to contribute to widening access to higher education.