HC Deb 11 February 2002 vol 380 cc94-6W
Dr. Francis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on Government policy relating to widening participation in higher education. [31149]

Margaret Hodge

The Government's policy is to increase participation so that by the end of the decade, 50 per cent. of 18 to 30 year olds have the opportunity to experience higher education. As part of this objective, the Government intend to widen participation to those groups traditionally under-represented in higher education. We have taken a number of steps to support our policy. They include the Excellence Challenge programme, targeted at raising the aspirations of young people from our cities, educational maintenance allowances introduced in pilot areas to encourage greater staying-on and attainment rates post-16; policy to raise levels at 16 and 18, by driving up standards in secondary schools; the Connexions Service, to ensure that young people get the advice and support they need to achieve; and new qualifications in school, college and university to expand choices of study.

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities had agreed a target for widening participation by 31 December 2001. [33030]

Margaret Hodge

122 of the 126 higher education institutions that were required by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to submit widening participation strategies, have agreed their targets with the funding council. HEFCE is working with the four outstanding institutions to agree their targets and we expect those targets to be agreed as soon as possible.

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial penalties she plans to impose on institutions which do not agree targets on widening participation in university education. [33031]

Margaret Hodge

The funding of individual higher education institutions, and the terms and conditions of grant, are matters for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). In HEFCE circular 01/29, the Funding Council stated thatIf (Widening Participation) strategies and acceptable accompanying action plans are not submitted, we may withhold all or part of the funding for 2001–02 from the postcode premium, and/or aspiration funding, where applicable. Funding for future years (2002–03, 2003–04) will be released on the production and approval of a report on progress towards the targets set in the action plan".

HEFCE is at present considering what further measures to introduce, and will consult with the sector about this shortly.

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has given HEFCE on promoting wider participation in university education. [33032]

Margaret Hodge

The guidance, which the Secretary of State has provided to HEFCE was outlined in the grant letter of 29 November 2001 to the council, a copy of which can be found in the Commons Library. This guidance emphasises the importance given to the Government's commitment to widen participation and to meet their target of ensuring that 50 per cent. of young people should have the opportunity to benefit from higher education by the time they reach 30 years of age.

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the cost of meeting the Government's target on widening participation in university education. [33035]

Margaret Hodge

The Government are committed to increasing and widening participation. Costs are being considered as part of the spending review. The outcome of the spending review will be made public in the summer.