§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Government's policy is in respect of the availability of legal aid for those intending to refer university complaints to the proposed new Independent Adjudicator as set out in the Higher Education Bill; and if he will make a statement. [158299]
§ Mr. LammyIt is intended that the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), which has been established by the higher education sector, will be the designated operator of a scheme for the review of student complaints should the Higher Education Bill become law. The OIA is not a judicial scheme. It operates along similar lines to other Ombudsman-type schemes and will be free to complainants, and therefore legal aid should be unnecessary.