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21 Feb 2008 : Column 868W—continued
Higher Education: Admissions
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of part-time first degree students expected to enrol on a higher education course in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [186621]
Bill Rammell: The January 2008 Grant Letter to HEFCE set out our expectations for growth in student numbers. As a result of the 2 per cent. real terms increase in funding for HE we are making available over the next three years, and our decision to redistribute grant away from students doing second degrees or other HE qualifications at an equivalent or lower level in order to fund more first degree students, there is scope overall to fund significant growth. We expect a growth in core-fundable students of 20,000 new places in 2008-09, 35,000 new places in 2009-10 and about 60,000 new places in 2010-11 (on a full-time equivalent basis). The exact number of places to be filled by part-time first degree students will depend on student demand and the mixture of provision that institutions deliver, but our plans allow for a significant increase in employer co-funded provision where many students will want to study on a part-time basis.
Higher Education: Ethnic Groups
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made in increasing the number of lecturers of black and minority ethnic origin in universities. [177069]
Bill Rammell: The responsibility for recruiting staff lies with higher education institutions (HEIs), as the employers. The Government have encouraged the sector to ensure that its work force is representative of the communities it serves and we have also instituted a number of measures to support HEIs in this area. The Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000) places a duty on higher education institutions to promote equality of opportunity. Through the Rewarding and Developing Staff initiative, we have supported HEIs in developing their human resource capability—recruitment and retention, and equal opportunities were two of the six priority areas.
There has been a rising trend in the numbers of black and minority academics working in higher education, although from a low starting point. In 2005-06, 8.4 per cent. of academics in UK HE institutions were from a black and minority ethnic background, compared to 6.0 per cent. in 1996-97.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England monitors the number of black and minority ethnic staff in higher education through its annual data reports—see
and its Higher Education Workforce Framework, at:
The Equality Challenge Unit, a sector body which provides advice on equality issues, also supports HEIs to help them improve their equality practice.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether funding for equivalent learning qualifications will be provided to those seeking second degrees or higher education qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [175716]
Bill Rammell
[ holding answer 7 January 2008]: The progressive re-distribution of institutional funding away from students doing equivalent or lower level qualifications (ELQs) to ones they already hold will enable us to widen Higher Education participation and support more of the millions of people of all ages without a first Higher Education qualification. Nobody has challenged that priority as a matter of principle or on grounds of fairness or social justice. In addition, the analysis in the Lord Leitch’s report and comparative data from the OECD all support the conclusion that we are not producing enough graduates for our economic well-being. The ELQ policy sharpens the incentives in the system for HEIs to produce more of them to match our economic competitors. An extra 5 million people will need to go through university by 2020 if we are to be even on the edge of the premier league for world-class skills, with 40 per cent. of the
work force with a first HE qualification. All of the £100 million affected by this policy will be redistributed to support this goal.
However, there will be transitional protection for existing ELQ students until they complete their courses and there will also be opportunities in future for students to pursue such qualifications through foundation degrees and employer co-funded provision. There will also be a review mechanism each year starting in December 2008 to look at individual subjects of particular economic or social importance. We are sure it would be wrong for us to rush into making special arrangements for any subjects, other than those which had already been identified, before any changes to ELQs, as requiring support in the public interest (such as medicine, initial teacher training teaching, science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, area-based studies, and modern foreign languages). But we are asking the Funding Council each year to look at levels of demand both for exempt or protected subjects and at any other subjects which might in future be regarded as key because of their economic or social significance and advise us on the best way forward.
Higher Education: Part-Time Education
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students studying for an equivalent or lower qualification are part-time students. [178119]
Bill Rammell: HEFCE estimate that the some 37,000 part-time students (in full-time equivalent terms) were studying equivalent or lower level qualifications (ELQ) in 2005/06. We have always made clear that there will be no change in the existing institutional funding arrangements for all students currently studying for equivalent or lower level qualifications until they have completed their courses.
Higher Education: Qualification
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) which 10 universities awarded the highest number of first-class degrees as a proportion of entrants in 2007; [178125]
(2) in which 10 subjects the highest proportion of grades awarded to undergraduates were firsts in 2007. [178126]
Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the tables. Figures for 2007/08 will be available in January 2009.
(1) Top 10 higher education institutions that awarded the highest proportion of firsts is as follows:
(2) Top 10 subjects with highest proportion of firsts is as follows:
| Number and proportion( 1) of first degree graduates awarded first class degrees, English higher education institutions, academic year 2006/07 | |||
| Of which : those awarded firsts | |||
| Subject | Number of Graduates | Number | Percentage |
| (1) Based on students whose degree was given a classification. Certain qualifications obtained at first degree level are not subject to classification of the award, notably medical and general degrees. These, together with ordinary degrees have been excluded from the calculation. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | |||
Intellectual Property: Ministerial Duties
Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which Minister in his Department is responsible for policy on intellectual property. [182417]
Mr. Lammy: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin took over responsibility for policy on intellectual property on 24 January 2008.
Jean Monnet Action
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what Jean Monnet programmes are in operation in the UK. [181035]
Bill Rammell: The latest information available from the European Commission shows that there are currently 178 Jean Monnet projects in operation in the UK. These include 14 Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence in the Universities of Bath, Birmingham, Cambridge, Essex, Glasgow, Hull, Kent, Leeds, Liverpool, Loughborough, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sussex and Wales (Aberystwyth) and funding for courses throughout the UK in community law, European economic integration, European political integration and the history of the European construction process.
Literacy: Greater London
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of functionally illiterate adults living in London over the last eight years; and if he will make a statement. [186659]
Mr. Lammy: We define “functionally literate” as having literacy skills at Level 1 or above and our public service agreement target for adult literacy from the comprehensive spending review contains a performance indicator for 597,000 people of working age to achieve a first Level 1 or above literacy qualification by 2011 towards our ambition of ensuring 95 per cent. of adults have a minimum of entry Level 3 numeracy and Level 1 literacy by 2020. Since the launch of the Skills for Life strategy in 2001, 1.759 million adults have improved their literacy, language or numeracy skills. The Skills for Life Survey in 2003 found that 19 per cent. of adults aged 16 to 65 in London region were below Level 1 literacy (approximately 190,000 people), compared to an average of 16 per cent. for England. We are currently planning to update the survey.
Lord Triesman
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills who will undertake the Ministerial responsibilities of Lord Triesman when he leaves the Government. [182061]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 25 January 2008]: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin took over these ministerial responsibilities on 24 January.
Medicine: Higher Education
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of pupils applying to study medicine at university were entitled to free school meals in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [186230]
Bill Rammell: Information on the number of applicants who are entitled to free school meals is not held centrally.
Ministers of Religion: Training
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the implications of changes in the funding of equivalent or lower qualifications for the training of ordinands in the Church of England. [186794]
Bill Rammell: The progressive re-distribution of institutional funding away from students doing equivalent or lower level qualifications will enable us to widen Higher Education participation and support more of the millions of people of all ages without a first Higher Education qualification, some of whom may wish to train as ordinands. However, we asked HEFCE to lead discussions with interested parties on this issue including, for example, the options of Foundation Degrees or employer co-funded courses relevant to positions of religious and spiritual leadership and respond within two months.
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