§ Mr. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any information on (a) those polytechnics and colleges which have shown students examples of their examination papers before taking their finals and (b) the number of graduates who have obtained degrees based on prior knowledge of the questions.
§ Sir Keith JosephAll institutions of higher education are responsible for setting examinations for their own students. Information about the extent to which guidance is given on revision topics is not available on a systematic basis. If the committee of inquiry into public sector validation, which I have established under Sir Norman Lindop's chairmanship, sees this as an important issue affecting standards in public sector higher education, I am sure that it will make appropriate recommendations. For the university sector, the group on academic standards established by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals under the chairmanship of Professor Reynolds is also looking at all aspects of academic procedures, including examination practices.