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EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Higher Education Admissions Project
The Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr. Charles Clarke): Further to my Statement in the House on Tuesday 8 April 2003, Official Report, column 16WS, I am announcing today further details of the project to be undertaken by Professor Steven Schwartz on admissions to Higher Education.
The terms of reference of the project will be as follows:
- To report to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on the options which English institutions providing Higher Education should consider adopting in assessing the merit of applicants and their achievement and potential for different types of courses.
To report on practical implementation of such options using evidence-based good practice.
To report on the high-level principles underpinning such approaches which institutions would be expected to adopt.
- The need to reinforce public confidence in the fairness and transparency of admissions arrangements.
The diversity in the missions of providers of Higher Education, and of their students.
Maintaining the autonomy of institutions in academic matters including the systems and processes by which applicants are admitted.
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Professor Schwartz will be supported by a steering group whose membership will be as follows:
- Prof Sir Colin Campbell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham.
Mrs Pauline Davies, Headmistress, Wycombe Abbey School, High Wycombe.
Mr John Gardiner, Chairman, TESCO plc.
Ms Janet Graham, Head of the Admissions Office, University of Cambridge.
Prof Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Mr Peter Lampl, Chairman, Sutton Trust.
Mr Anthony McClaran, acting Chief Executive, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.
Mr John Morgan, Headteacher, Conyers School, Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees.
Dr Bernadette Porter, Rector and Chief Executive, University of Surrey Roehampton.
Dr Alan Stanhope, Principal, Cornwall College of Further Education, St Austell.
HEALTH
Cancer Services
The Secretary of State for Health (Mr. Alan Milburn): I am today announcing a £165 million investment programme in new equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. As a result, all computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and linear accelerators introduced before 1996 will be replaced with new modern equipment. This will give the National Health Service in England a stock of diagnostic scanners as modern as any country in Europe. I am also announcing today the allocation of 38 CT and 43 MRI scanners. A list of the NHS Trusts in receipt of these has been placed in the Library.
I have also today placed in the Library copies of a letter from the National Cancer Director and a report on investment in cancer services in 2001–02 and 2002–03.
The report shows that while there was a shortfall in cancer investment in 2001–02, this was corrected in 2002–03 in line with the commitments set out in the Cancer Plan. Planned local investment in cancer alongside central budgets for 2003–04 will mean that the NHS will invest more than the £570 million provided in the Cancer Plan.
PRIME MINISTER
Council of Europe Assembly/Assembly of Western European Union
The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair): I have placed in the Library today the latest Information Bulleting on the activities of the United Kingdom Delegation to the
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Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union covering the period from November 2000 to October 2002.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Shellfish Waters
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Elliot Morley): Further treatment than secondary treatment is being operated or is due to be installed at certain sewage treatment works discharging into 47 Shellfish Waters in England designated under the Surface Waters (Shellfish) (Classification) Regulations 1997, in order to fulfil our obligations under the Shellfish Waters Directive.
So, in accordance with the criteria in Part I of Schedule I of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994 (which transposes the European Council Directive (91/271/EEC) concerning urban waste water treatment), I am today announcing the designation of these 47 water bodies as Sensitive Areas (Shellfish Waters) under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Maps and lists of the new Sensitive Areas have today been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. Maps showing the location of all current Sensitive Areas (Eutrophic), (Nitrate), (Bathing Waters), and now (Shellfish Waters) have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and at the head office of the Environment Agency and its principal regional offices.
The maps will also be published on the Department's website.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance
The Minister for Work (Mr. Nicholas Brown): In a written statement on 12 December I announced the start of the review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance and the terms of reference of the review:
"The purpose of this review is to assess the case for reforming ELCI and, if such a case is demonstrated, to identify the objectives and options for such reform. Its terms of reference are to:
- Survey the operation of Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI), taking into account any relevant aspects of the state benefits systems.
Assess the scale and nature of the current difficulties being experienced in relation to ELCI, in particular the extent to which these difficulties are likely to be short-term only, repeated in the future or permanent.
Make recommendations to Ministers as to the case or otherwise for reforming ELCI.
If a case for reform is found, make recommendations as to the objectives, principles and high-level options for such reform."
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An interim, first stage report, has now been received by Ministers. This sets out our preliminary findings in what has proved to be a complex area and also sets out a work plan for producing a further report. Hon Members may also be aware that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been conducting a fact-finding study into the UK Liability Insurance market. That study has been looking at public, product, professional and
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employers' liability insurance, and examining why premiums have recently increased and the way in which this market is working.
Although the two reviews are separate they consider related issues. I have therefore agreed with OFT that it would be sensible to co-ordinate publication of the two reports. This will happen immediately following recess, on 3 June.