§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the recruitment and retention of NHS staff which would occur if the NHS University were to require its students to pay tuition fees; [133887]
(2) for which courses the NHS University is considering charging tuition fees; and what the expected level of such fees is; [133888]
(3) what discussions his Department has held with (a) NHS human resources managers and (b) trade unions about the impact which charging tuition fees for NHS University courses would have on workforce development; and if he will make a statement. [133889]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 27 October 2003]: The National Health Service University (NHSU) will provide additional high quality learning opportunities at all levels for people working in health and social care. It will not generally levy charges on students for the learning opportunities offered in its initial roll-out phase. The NHSU is currently working with local employers and commissioners, through strategic health authorities, to develop its longer-term business model, and expects to attract income from a wide range of public and private sources. Any decision to levy charges on NHS staff will take account of the need to increase and widen access to education arid training within health and social care. There will be appropriate consultation on these matters with all the relevant stakeholders, including employers in the sector and trades unions.