Scottish Fee Support Review Committee (Hansard, 1 December 1998)

§ Mr. Blunkett

Further to my reply of 23 July 1998,Official Report, column 658, I and my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Scotland for Wales and for Northern Ireland are pleased to announce the membership of the Scottish Fee Support Review Committee. 139W The Chairman will be Sir George Quigley, as already announced. Lord Bums, Professor Michael Hamlin and Sir Philip Jones have also agreed to serve as members. Terms of reference for the Committee have been placed in the Library.

The evidence on admissions this year shows an increase in the number of students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland entering Scottish institutions this autumn.

Scottish Fee Support Review: Terms of Reference

In fulfilment of the statutory requirements in section 25(4) of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 and Article 6(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998: to review the arrangements for England, Wales and Northern Ireland for paying grants for students' fees for the final honours year of first-degree courses at higher education institutions in Scotland, which are generally one year longer than comparable courses elsewhere in the UK; to consider the impact of those arrangements, taking into account the evidence on admissions in 1998 and applications in 1999 to Scottish higher education institutions, and to consider the need for any change; and to report to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland by summer 1999, bearing in mind that the Committee's report is to be laid before each House of the Westminster Parliament and before the Northern Ireland Assembly not later than 1 April 2000.

The Committee's report will be placed in the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament at the same time as it is laid before the Westminster Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Committee should take evidence from: the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, and the Committee of Heads of Welsh Higher Education Institutions; such other bodies as the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment, for Wales and for Scotland and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland may invite to make representations; and any others who may wish to offer evidence.

Scottish Fee Support Review: Membership Sir George Quigley (Chairman)—Chairman of Ulster Bank (since 1989) and Member of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; formerly Permanent Secretary to the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland (1982–88), Chairman of the Northern Ireland Economic Council, and member of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (1996–97). Lord Burns—formerly Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury (1991–98), and Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury and Head of the Government Economic Service (1980–91). Professor Michael Hamlin—formerly Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee (1987–94), Vice-Principal of the University of Birmingham (1986–87) and President of the British Hydrological Society (1995–97); Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Sir Philip Jones—Chairman of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales; formerly Chairman of Total Oil Holdings (1991–98) and Chairman of the Electricity Council (1983–90).