HC Deb 12 May 2003 vol 405 cc57-8W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual(a) staffing and (b) running costs of the proposed Office for Fair Access to higher education will be. [110885]

Margaret Hodge

Staffing and running costs have yet to be determined and will be appropriate to the task. It will not be a large office.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements will be made for liaison between the Office for Fair Access and HEFCE in the collection and analysis of data on admissions and non-completion of courses. [110915]

Margaret Hodge

Details of the arrangements on data collection by the Office for Fair Access with and its relationship with HEFCE are set out in Widening Participation in Higher Education available in the library

We have reflected on how best to take action to bear down on non-completion and decided that the work should be undertaken by HEFCE rather than OFFA.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the proposed Office for Fair Access will be required(a) to report annually on overall achievements of the higher education sector in improving access and (b) to preserve confidentiality of their dealings with individual institutions in connection with the implementation of their access agreements. [110927]

Margaret Hodge

Details of the reporting arrangements are set out in Widening Participation in Higher Education, available in the Library. Subject to parliamentary approval of the relevant legislation, my right hon. Friend will issue more detailed guidance to the Office for Fair Access later.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what safeguards will be introduced(a) to ensure the independence of the proposed Office for Fair Access from HEFCE and (b) to define the financial and administrative relations between them. [110929]

Margaret Hodge

We have made it clear that the head of the proposed Office for Fair Access (OFFA) will exercise his or her independent judgement. This will be enshrined in legislation. OFFA will supported by, but separate from, HEFCE.