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11 Dec 2007 : Column 441W—continued


Higher Education: Admissions

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many undergraduates entered UK universities by socio-economic grouping in each year between 1996 and 2007. [173209]

Bill Rammell: The available information is shown in the table. The figures show proportions of UK-domiciled young (aged under 21) entrants to full-time first degree courses at higher education institutions in the UK, who were from lower social classes over the period 1997-98 to 2001-02, and the proportions from lower socio-economic classes over the period 2002-03 to 2005-06. The social classification in the student data changed in the 2002-03 academic year, and the two classifications are not comparable.

This information is taken from the annual Performance Indicators in Higher Education, which are currently published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.


11 Dec 2007 : Column 442W
UK-domiciled young (under 21) full-time first degree entrants to higher education institutions in the UK
Academic year Lower social classes (IIIM , IV, V) Lower socio-economic groups (4, 5, 6, 7)

1997-98

24.9

n/a

1998-99

25.1

n/a

1999-2000

25.3

n/a

2000-01

25.4

n/a

2001-02

25.8

n/a

2002-03

n/a

28.4

2003-04

n/a

28.6

2004-05

n/a

28.2

2005-06

n/a

29.3

n/a = not available
Note:
The socio-economic group classification was introduced in 2002-03 to replace the social class groupings. The two classifications are not directly comparable
Source:
Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HEFCE/HESA

Figures are not available for earlier years. Figures for 2006-07 will become available in 2008.

The proportion of students from low social classes/low socio-economic classes has been calculated using information on students whose social class/socio-economic class background is known. A significant proportion of students' social backgrounds are unknown and so exact numbers cannot be determined.

Postgraduate Medical Deaneries

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people are employed in each of the postgraduate medical deaneries; what the payroll costs are for each deanery in 2007-08; and what the size is of the budget each deanery administers in 2007-08. [166866]

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.

Information on the number of staff employed in each postgraduate medical deanery is not held centrally. It is therefore not possible to provide payroll cost information in respect of these staff.

Medical and dental education levy (MADEL) funding is not allocated directly to the postgraduate medical deaneries. It is included in the multi professional education and training (MPET) budget allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs). It is up to each SHA to decide how much of the MPET allocation it will spend on postgraduate medical and dental education. The amount of MADEL funding included in each SHAs MPET allocation in 2007-08, is shown in the following table.

Medical and dental education levy budget 2007-08
S trategic h ealth a uthority £000

East Midlands

114,992

East of England

141,546

London

351,911

North East

99,551

North West

201,582

South Central

116,055

South East Coast

107,141

South West

145,281

West Midlands

152,452

Yorkshire and Humberside

169,781

Total

1,600,292


11 Dec 2007 : Column 443W

Reviews

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what (a) reviews, (b) consultations and (c) taskforces his Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to undertake; on
11 Dec 2007 : Column 444W
what date each (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each. [169932]

Mr. Lammy: External reviews, consultations and taskforces being undertaken or scheduled to be undertaken by DIUS are as follows:


11 Dec 2007 : Column 445W

11 Dec 2007 : Column 446W
Name Type Start date Completion date Purpose

Review of variable fees for full-time undergraduates

Review

To be determined

To be determined

Independent review of the first three years of the new system of variable fees, which started in the academic year 2006/07

Review of operation of new foundation degree awarding powers for further education colleges

Review

May 2013

To be determined

To review the operation of the new foundation degree awarding powers for further education colleges. This review is required under the Education and Training Act 2007

Higher Education Regulatory Review Group (HERRG)

Taskforce

2004

Ongoing

To serve as a “gatekeeper” advising on the potential burden of policies and proposals; and generally to advise the Government on better regulation of higher education

Compacts project (with HEFCE)

Review

November 2007

March 2008

To establish the range and nature of HE compact schemes

Schwartz Review Project (through SPA)

Review

November 2007

July 2008

To examine the extent to which the Schwartz recommendations have been implemented; changes that have occurred in response to the Schwartz recommendations; and how the implementation of the recommendations has supported the five principles of fair admissions

New civil space strategy

Review

Summer 2006, followed by a public consultation January to May 2007.

Publication of the new strategy is planned for early 2008

The British National Space Centre is developing a new civil space strategy for the UK to replace the current “UK space strategy 2003 to 2006 and beyond: space for science, enterprise and environment”.

Licensing re use of outer space

Review

2005

2005 Consultation 2008

The provisions of Outer Space Act provide the principal means of UK compliance with international treaties on the use of outer space. The Government held a review of their implementation in 2005 with a view to modernising the licensing process required by the Act. As a result of the review, we have improved guidance to licence applicants and pre-licensing assessments. We expect to conclude this process with a public consultation on further proposals to revise the licensing process in 2008.

Science Review of the Home Office and ministry of Justice

Review

January 2007

December 2007

The Government Office for Science runs a rolling programme of “Science Reviews” looking at how departments of state identify their science requirements, use science and scientific advice; and commission, manage and quality-assure science.(1)

Science Review of the Department of Health

Review

July 2008

May 2008

(1)

Review of Weights & Measures legislation

Review

2 November 2007

2008

It is likely that a consultation on proposals for legislative changes will follow the review some time in 2009.

Possible changes to existing secondary legislation on measuring instruments.

Consultation

16 November 2007

8 February 2008.

Proposals identified as a result of this review will be subject to further consultation as part of the legislative change process.

Improvement in the Further Education Sector

Consultation

4 December 2007

25 January 2008

A consultative prospectus for a new sector-owned organisation

Changes to the regime governing specified quantities.

Consultation

The consultation is anticipated during 2008, though no date has been set.

Legislation is necessary to implement Directive 2007/45/EC on specified quantities for pre-packages and may also provide an opportunity make reforms to the regime for non pre-packaged products which would simplify the legislation and remove any unnecessary burdens on business. (We expect to consult on draft legislation by October 2008 so that new legislation can be in place by April 2009.)

IPO Fastrack consultation

Consultation

14 December 2007

The Gowers Report on IP recommendation that the UK Intellectual Property Office provide a speedier process for granting patents and trade marks, subject to the payment of a higher fee. This consultation will close on 14 December 2007.

Research Exemption

Consultation

January 2008

This process will commence with a discussion paper to identify key issues for inclusion in the consultation. It responds to a recommendation made by Gowers which calls for greater clarity about what can or cannot be done by researchers using patented processes and products.

Copyright

Consultation

Taking place in 2008. No dates yet set( 2)

Changes to copyright exceptions taking forward the recommendations of the Gowers Review.

Hours of Business

Consultation

(2)

This consultation concerns the dates/days of the week and times of the day during which the UK-IPO is able to accept date-sensitive transactions such as filing of applications.

Patent Office Fees

Consultation

(2)

This was a recommendation of Gowers, with the purpose of realigning UK Patent Office administrative fees to cover costs more closely on Patent Office operations (e.g. granting patents).

Copyright issues

Consultation

(2)

This may be needed to reframe some aspects of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act in relation to copyright exceptions.

Train to Gain

Review

July 2007

November 2007

To review the effectiveness and operation of Train to Gain to ensure we can expand the service to meet the needs of all employers in all sectors.

Review of Investors in People

23 October 2007

End of December 2007

Review the remit of Investors in People to consider how IiP UK and its products, including the standard itself, should be reshaped to support delivery of the UK world class skills ambition

Consultation on changes to the machinery of post-16 skills delivery, consequential to the 2007 MoG changes

Consultation

Feb 2008

May 2008

Joint with DCSF. To consult on proposals to (i) effect the transfer of strategic leadership for 16-19 education and skills to local authorities and (ii) reform the post-19 skills landscape.

Consultation on informal adult education

Consultation

January 2008

March 2008

To consult sector partners, learners and potential learners on the planning and delivery of informal adult education for the 21st century

Consultation on focusing ESOL on community cohesion

Consultation

To be determined

To be determined

Explore how to prioritise the most excluded in the funding and delivery of ESOL training.

Mortgage Style Student Loans

Review

Spring 2005

Summer 2006

To establish new strategies for overseeing Mortgage Style Loans to optimise cost effectiveness on both the Government’s retained and sold loan portfolios.

Apprenticeships

Review

Autumn 2007

Early 2008

To review the Government's apprenticeships programme and identify improvements to assist in the delivery of policy aims, including the achievement of published targets.

Regulation of qualifications

Consultation

December 2007

Spring 2008

To consult on the Government's plans to establish a new independent regulator for qualifications. Joint with DCSF,


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