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19 Nov 2003 : Column 1014W—continued
Tuition Fees
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on salaries for teaching and research staff at universities in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; [139002]
- (2) what steps he is taking to ensure, under the proposals in the White Paper on Higher Education, equality of opportunity for English students seeking to go to universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland; [139164]
(3) what assessment has been made of the impact so far of the different systems of student funding in the UK on cross-border flows of students from (a) England and Wales to Scotland and (b) Scotland to England and Wales; [139128]
(4) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on (a) research and (b) teaching at universities in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland; [139003]
(5) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees in England on cross-border flows of students from (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland to universities in England; [139004]
(6) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at English universities on the overall competitiveness of universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland; [139129]
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(7) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on cross-border flows of academic staff to England from universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139130]
(8) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees in England on cross-border flows of English students to universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139005]
(9) how, under the proposals in the White Paper on higher education, he will ensure equality of opportunity for (a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) Northern Irish students to go to universities in (i) Wales, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland; [139105]
(10) what assessment has been made of the overall impact of the implementation in England of the proposals in the White Paper on Higher Education on universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139175]
Alan Johnson: We are involved in regular discussion with the devolved administrations on these issues.
Funding decisions on higher education relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations. Matters relating to student support are also devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Government propose, subject to Parliamentary approval, to transfer student support to the National Assembly for Wales.
After legislation to give effect to the transfer is in place, Professor Teresa Rees will start an independent review of student support and tuition fees in Wales. This will include the key question of future policy on variable fees and will advise the Assembly on what it might do with its new student support powers. The Third Stage Higher Education Review in Scotland is currently assessing the impact of the proposals emanating from the White Paper The Future of Higher Education (Cm 5735).
Subject to any provisions in their access agreements, it will be for individual institutions to determine how they spend income raised from variable tuition fees.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the residual income requirements are for full or partial remission of university tuition fees; and what the proposed residual income levels will be above which student grants will not be (a) fully and (b) partly paid from 2004. [139097]
Alan Johnson: For the present residual income requirements for full or partial fee remission, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 October, Official Report, column 438W.
The income thresholds for 2004–05 have not yet been finalised. From 2004 academic year, new students from a household with an income of £15,200 or less will qualify for a full HE Grant of 1,000. Those from a household with income between £15, 201 and £21,185 will qualify for a partial grant of between £50 and £1,000. We expect to announce the rates for the remaining thresholds within the next few weeks.
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Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what fee remissions he proposes for (a) students from more modest backgrounds and (b) students taking up (i) medicine or (ii) teaching; [139627]
- (2) what further measures in respect of (a) maintenance grants and (b) student loans he intends to bring forward; and if he will make a statement. [139629]
Alan Johnson: The Government's policy on maintenance grants, student loans and tuition fee remission grant is set out in the White Paper "The future of higher education" (Cm 5735) published on 22 January 2003. I also refer to my written statement of 16 July 2003 to the House of Commons on raising the income threshold, for receipt of the full £1,000 Higher Education Grant, to £15,200.
Universities
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has sought from businesses on their preferred methods of contributing to more funding for (a) teaching and (b) research in universities in the United Kingdom. [139174]
Alan Johnson: I have not specifically invited representations from business in relation to the funding of teaching in universities. As to research, a consultation on funding for research in Higher Education Institutions, The sustainability of University Research', was published by the Office for Science and Technology at the end of May. It closed for consultation on 30 September. Over 162 formal responses were received, including 11 from industry. These responses, and contributions from meetings with a range of organisations, are receiving careful consideration. The government anticipates an announcement on the outcomes of the consultation early in 2004.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Animal Welfare
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the feasibility of implementing the recommendations in the report of July 2002 by the House of Lords Select Committee on the use of animals in scientific procedures; and if he will make a statement. [140045]
Caroline Flint: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans there are to establish national research on the replacement of animals in basic medical research. [133349]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 22 October 2003]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to enhance the status of alternative research to replace animal experiments. [133350]
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Caroline Flint [holding answer 22 October 2003]: The use of alternatives is widely encouraged and the use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available.
Much importance is already attached to alternatives research, both by Government (including public service research funding bodies) and the scientific research community. The latter has considerable incentive to develop replacements for the use of animals, and has an impressive track record in doing so. Responsibility for further progress continues to rest primarily with the researchers themselves, as they try to overcome the technical limitations of those systems and methodologies still dependent upon animal use. The Government will continue their efforts to support that, with the added focus and impetus provided by the various related recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures, the Government response to which has been well reported.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the levels of financial support other EU member states have given to alternatives to animal research; and what conclusions he has drawn. [133351]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 22 October 2003]: The Government have not commissioned any research into the levels of financial support other EU member states have given to alternatives to animal research and has no current plans to do so. However, we have not ruled out such research, should it become relevant to our consideration of the need for a United Kingdom centre for research into the alternatives.
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to encourage alternatives to animal testing for medical research. [133541]
Caroline Flint: The use of alternatives is widely encouraged and the use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available. Every year the Home Office makes available to the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) a budget aimed at developing or promoting the use of alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used, or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering (the 3Rs). Work aimed at improving the environmental conditions in which laboratory animals are kept and transported has also been sponsored. The amount made available to the Committee for 2003–04 for this specific purpose is £280,000.
This is not the only money spent by the Government on alternatives, other Departments also fund such work. It is estimated that the total spent by the United Kingdom Government is between £2 million and £10 million each year. Industry also spends many millions of pounds each year on the search for and development of alternatives.
We also support international initiatives, including the work of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). The Chief Inspector of
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the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate is now the United Kingdom representative on the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee and is contributing to discussions about the future direction of ECVAM's work. The Chief Inspector and other members of the Inspectorate also participated last year in the Fourth World Congress on alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, in New Orleans, which the Home Office co-sponsored.
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