HC Deb 31 January 2003 vol 398 c1067W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the evidential basis was for the description by the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Eduction of some higher education courses as Mickey Mouse; and to which courses she was referring. [93942]

Margaret Hodge

I was referring to any course where the content is not intellectually rigorous and where there is not a clearly designed purpose. I made the comment in the context of ensuring that the expansion of higher education is both relevant and appropriate to meet the needs of learners and employers, particularly when we are seeking a contribution towards the cost of tuition from students.