§ Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he will make to ensure that under his new proposals for the financing of student unions the student unions will continue to manage their, own affairs.
§ Dr. BoysonMinisters have always made clear their wish that institutions shall continue to afford their unions freedom in the management of their affairs. My right hon. and learned Friend has no specific powers which bear on this matter.
§ Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he proposes to en sure that student unions will receive the money allocated to colleges and universities for student activities under his proposed new arrangement for financing student unions.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. and learned Friend has premised that the amount to be passed to institutions of higher education in the year 1981–82 to cover student union costs will be equal to what they would have collectively received under the present system.
The UGC has promised to give guidance to each institution as to the amount included for individual institutions from this national figure. The Council for Local Education Authorities is writing to its members advising on the application of the new arrangements.
§ Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will retain the present references to student unions in the award regulations whish cover the payment of grants and tutition fees.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. Under the new arrangements student unions will be financed out of an institution's recurrent50W funds and it would be inappropriate to link student unions with tuition fees, which are only one of their sources of funds.
§ Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what period of consultation he envisages before he proposes to introduce any new arrangement for the financing of student unions.
§ Dr. BoysonI am always ready to meet the interested parties, but I have concluded the discussions on the new arrangements foreseen in the announcement by my right hon. and learned Friend on 5 February 1980, and in my speech in January 1980 to the National Union of Students' Conference. The arrangements will be introduced for the 1981–82 academic year.