§ Paul FarrellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on salaries for teaching and research staff at universities in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; [139002]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure, under the proposals in the White Paper on Higher Education, equality of opportunity for English students seeking to go to universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland; [139164]
(3) what assessment has been made of the impact so far of the different systems of student funding in the UK on cross-border flows of students from (a) England and Wales to Scotland and (b) Scotland to England and Wales; [139128]
(4) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on (a) research and (b) teaching at universities in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland; [139003]
(5) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees in England on cross-border flows of students from (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland to universities in England;[139004]
(6) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at English universities on the overall competitiveness of universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland;[139129]
1015W(7) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on cross-border flows of academic staff to England from universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139130]
(8) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees in England on cross-border flows of English students to universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139005]
(9) how, under the proposals in the White Paper on higher education, he will ensure equality of opportunity for (a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) Northern Irish students to go to universities in (i) Wales, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland; [139105]
(10) what assessment has been made of the overall impact of the implementation in England of the proposals in the White Paper on Higher Education on universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139175]
§ Alan JohnsonWe are involved in regular discussion with the devolved administrations on these issues.
Funding decisions on higher education relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations. Matters relating to student support are also devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Government propose, subject to Parliamentary approval, to transfer student support to the National Assembly for Wales.
After legislation to give effect to the transfer is in place, Professor Teresa Rees will start an independent review of student support and tuition fees in Wales. This will include the key question of future policy on variable fees and will advise the Assembly on what it might do with its new student support powers. The Third Stage Higher Education Review in Scotland is currently assessing the impact of the proposals emanating from the White Paper The Future of Higher Education (Cm 5735).
Subject to any provisions in their access agreements, it will be for individual institutions to determine how they spend income raised from variable tuition fees.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the residual income requirements are for full or partial remission of university tuition fees; and what the proposed residual income levels will be above which student grants will not be(a) fully and (b) partly paid from 2004. [139097]
§ Alan JohnsonFor the present residual income requirements for full or partial fee remission, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 October,Official Report, column 438W.
The income thresholds for 2004–05 have not yet been finalised. From 2004 academic year, new students from a household with an income of £15,200 or less will qualify for a full HE Grant of 1,000. Those from a household with income between £15,201 and £21,185 will qualify for a partial grant of between £50 and £1,000. We expect to announce the rates for the remaining thresholds within the next few weeks.
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§ Paul FarrellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what fee remissions he proposes for(a) students from more modest backgrounds and (b) students taking up (i) medicine or (ii) teaching; [139627]
(2) what further measures in respect of (a) maintenance grants and (b) student loans he intends to bring forward; and if he will make a statement. [139629]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Government's policy on maintenance grants, student loans and tuition fee remission grant is set out in the White Paper "The future of higher education" (Cm 5735) published on 22 January 2003. I also refer to my written statement of 16 July 2003 to the House of Commons on raising the income threshold, for receipt of the full £1,000 Higher Education Grant, to £15,200.