§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she will take to increase the number of applications to study medicine from social classes IV and V, between 1996 and 2001. [49805]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 17 April 2002]: Widening access was a criterion in the exercise to distribute new medical places, completed in 2001. Under the "Widening Participation in Medicine" programme universities were encouraged to put forward innovative proposals to support the admission of students from a broad range of social and ethnic backgrounds. The aim is to reflect the population served by the NHS.
In addition, the Council of Heads of Medical Schools, working closely with the Commission for Racial Equality, has set up guiding principles and a model action plan for handling applications and admissions. These have been adopted by all 24 medical schools in the UK.
This Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from low income backgrounds. We have a £290 million programme under Excellence Challenge, to raise the aspirations of those who traditionally would not consider enter higher education. Moreover, students from lower income families do not pay tuition fees.
As a result of these measures, between 1996 and 2001 the number of applicants from social class IV accepted on to medical courses increased by 32 per cent. and by 50 per cent. for social class V.