§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to widen access to higher education. [121618]
§ Mr. BlunkettMy Department already has a range of initiatives to increase participation of disadvantaged groups. For instance, through the Excellence in Cities programme we are giving 5,000 gifted and talented 16 and 17-year-olds a taste of university life this summer. I can confirm that we will be providing new bursaries, worth up to £1,000 a year, that will give those from disadvantaged backgrounds the extra financial incentive and confidence they need to embark on a higher education course. These bursaries, which will be introduced from next year, will be known as "opportunity bursaries". However, more action is required if we are to extend the opportunities of higher education to all those capable of benefiting from it.
Today, I am pleased to announce a further package of measures that will open up new horizons to people from disadvantaged groups. This package includes:
a further £4 million to help recruit and retain bright students from areas with records of low participation in higher education. The money will add to the £18 million already available to help high achievers from these areas;extension of disabled student allowances of up to £5,000 a year to post-graduate students; anda grant of £63,000 to support a number of initiatives by the Sutton Trust. Both these measures and existing initiatives will become part of a concerted access drive that will enable those traditionally excluded from higher education to take advantage of a university education.