HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc997-8W
Ms Dari Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will undertake a Quinquennial Review of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. [43631]

Dr. Howells

In accordance with the Government's policy of quinquennial reviews of non-departmental public bodies, the Department will conduct a review of the Higher Education Funding Council for England in 1998. The first stage of the review will take the form of a 'prior options' study with the following terms of referenceto review the Higher Education Funding Council's functions and the likely need in future for those functions; to consider the powers, terms of reference, constitutional status, membership and activities of the Higher Education Funding Council for England; and to consider whether some or all of the functions of the Higher Education Funding Council for England can be performed through other means.

The second stage, depending upon conclusions from the prior options study, will involve a review of the system of financial management and control within the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The review will take account of recent relevant studies, including the report of the Dearing Inquiry.