§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he proposes to replace the quality audit and quality assurance work in higher education currently undertaken by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals' academic audit unit and the Council for National Academic Awards.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics and the Standing Conference of Principals have submitted proposals to establish a new quality and access organisation. This would be responsible for monitoring institutions' quality control and validation arrangements, building on the work of the academic audit unit and the Council for National Academic Awards. It would also have a role in the promotion and dissemination of best practice, and would take on and develop the CNAA's functions in the areas of credit accumulation and transfer schemes and the recognition of access courses. Audit and other reports would be published. The steering council of the organisation would have industrial and professional, as well as academic, members. These proposals are in line with those in Cm 1541 and we have welcomed them in principle. I am expecting later this month a further report describing in greater detail how it is proposed that the new organisation would operate in practice.