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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that any increase in the level of tuition fees will not have an adverse impact on the (a) supply, (b) retention, (c) diversity and (d) quality of students on (i) teaching, (ii) science, (iii) engineering, (iv) architecture, (v) veterinary and (vi) legal courses. [139908] Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to my previous reply to him of 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 354, in which I set out the measures for safeguarding access to higher education. With regard in particular to students on teaching courses, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State already monitors demand for, and take-up of, places on teacher training courses and has introduced a number of incentives aimed at encouraging teacher supply and retention. Students on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses, for example, receive a £6,000 training bursary as well as having their tuition fees paid by the Government. Those who qualify in priority subjects (approximately one third of students) also receive a £4,000 Golden Hello after induction. The Government will continue to take such measures as it believes appropriate to ensure that teacher supply meets demand. I would expect employers in other sectors of the labour market to take the action they believe is necessary to attract adequate numbers of graduates. The Office for Fair Access will, however, also play a role in ensuring that policies are in place to safeguard access to higher education across all subjects.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

139908; 413 c1497-8W;413 c1493-4W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Access Admissions Architecture Fees and charges Law Higher education Engineering Standards Teachers Training Students Science Veterinary medicine

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk