§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what resources and money are being made available to widen access to medical schools to ensure that students from all economic groups can enter the profession. [128803]
§ Mr. WicksMedical students, in common with other students, benefit from a range of government policies to widen access to higher education: £74.6 million for Access Funds in the academic year 1999–2000; a further £42 million a year from 2000–01 to broaden the social profile of entry into higher education; and from 2001–02, non-repayable Opportunity Bursaries of up to £1,000 for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, some medical schools have special schemes to encourage a wide range of potential students to study medicine.