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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues in the Treasury about the proposed closure by Exeter university of its undergraduate chemistry provision; [202636] (2) when the governing body of the university of Exeter informed her Department about the proposed closure of its undergraduate chemistry provision; [202898] (3) when her Department was informed about the proposed closure by Exeter university of its undergraduate chemistry provision; [202896] (4) what representations she has had from (a) the Royal Society of Chemistry, (b) the South West Regional Development Agency, (c) companies operating in the South West and (d) others concerning the proposed closure of undergraduate chemistry provision at Exeter university; and if she will make a statement; [202630] (5) what discussions she has had with the Higher Education Funding Council about the proposed closure of undergraduate chemistry provision at Exeter university; [202635] (6) if she will make a statement on the proposed closure by Exeter university of its undergraduate chemistry provision. [202638] Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed closure by Exeter university of its undergraduate chemistry provision on the Government's 10-year Investment Framework for Science and Innovation; [202640] (2) if she will make a statement on the proposed closure by Exeter university of its undergraduate chemistry provision; [202639] (3) what discussions she has had with the Higher Education Funding Council about the proposed closure of undergraduate chemistry provision at Exeter university; [202642] (4) what representations she has had from (a) the Royal Society of Chemistry, (b) the South West Regional Development Agency, (c) companies operating in the south west and (d) others concerning the proposed closure of undergraduate chemistry provision at Exeter university; and if she will make a statement; [202643] (5) what action she proposes to take to prevent the closure of further undergraduate chemistry provision in universities; [202692] (6) whether her Department has received reports of other university chemistry departments experiencing financial difficulty; [202693] (7) if she will hold discussions with her ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education and Skills to seek to prevent the proposed closure by Exeter university of its undergraduate chemistry provision. [202696] Ms Hewitt: Officials in the Department were informed of the proposed closure of Exeter's undergraduate chemistry provision in early November by officials at the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). DfES was advised informally by the Vice- Chancellor of the proposed closure in early November, prior to the formal announcement on 22 November. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, has discussed this issue with both the Higher Education Minister at the Department for Education and Skills and the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Both my noble Friend and I have received representations from the Royal Society of Chemistry. Lord Sainsbury met with the Royal Society of Chemistry on 8 December. A small number of letters from other HE institutions, students, staff, and individuals have also been received. There have been no representations from either business or the South West Regional Development Agency. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous organisations and as such are responsible for their own academic direction and strategic use of funds. The decision to close undergraduate chemistry provision is therefore a matter for Exeter university alone. I understand that Exeter university is working very closely with students to ensure that all their individual needs are met. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will continue to monitor the situation closely. The Department has not received any reports of other university chemistry departments that may be experiencing financial difficulty. The quality of chemistry research in English universities has increased significantly. 50 per cent. of departments were rated 5 or 5* in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) compared with only 20 per cent. in 1996. However, recognising concerns about future capacity to teach certain key disciplines, on 1 December the Secretary of State for the Department for Education and Skills wrote to HEFCE requesting advice on higher education subjects or courses of national strategic importance, including chemistry, where intervention might be appropriate to strengthen or secure them. HEFCE will be entering into a strategic dialogue with universities, colleges, employers and other partners to consider this matter. Science and innovation is one of my Department's key priorities: we will therefore continue to work closely with DfES, the Funding Councils and others to provide a robust, world-class research base, and delivering the Government's vision for science and innovation set out in the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014. Our Departments and the Higher Education Funding Council for England will continue to work closely together on this issue.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c1053-4W; 202640;202639;202642;202643;202692;202693;202696

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Closures Chemistry Finance Standards Skilled workers Students University of Exeter

Link

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