Written question asked by Anne Campbell (Labour) on Thursday, 14 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 28 November 2002. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Thursday, 28 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, What steps he will take to ensure that there is an increase in the number of university students from low income backgrounds. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he will take to ensure that there is an increase in the number of university students from low income backgrounds. [81997] Margaret Hodge: We are determined to encourage more young people from lower income backgrounds to enter higher education. Our secondary school reforms will help raise participation and attainment levels so that more young people will be eligible to benefit from higher education. We have committed over £190 million over three years to the Excellence Challenge to raise aspirations and attainment of young people in some of the most deprived areas of the country. This includes making available 25,000 Opportunity Bursaries to encourage young students from low-income families into higher education. Young people in schools and further education colleges in Excellence Challenge areas continue to benefit from the AimHigher road show, which was launched earlier this year to promote higher education. Our review of higher education which will be published in January will reflect our continued commitment to widening participation in higher education.

Secondary information