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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what plans he has to consult local communities affected by the concentration of high student numbers in his study into managing good practice in the provision of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement; [203404] (2) what groups he has invited to participate in the study of managing housing good practice in the provision of student accommodation in areas of high concentration of students; [203405] (3) when he proposes to establish the study funded by his Department into best practice on dealing with the problems associated with areas of high student numbers in accommodation. [204023] Keith Hill: A joint project has been set in hand by Universities UK (UK) and the Local Government Association (LGA) with funding from the Department for Education and Skills. This follows concern over the impact on local communities of an expanding student population. The project is due to result in a publication in spring 2005, and will be divided into two parts, the first looking at the reasons, scale, nature and context of some of the problems associated with large numbers of students in the community. The second part will focus on good practice and will give examples of effective co-operation between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and local authorities and other partnerships in the community. As part of this project, researchers will survey universities in the UK and use the responses as the basis for further inquiries, in the form of interviews, which will involve a wide selection of stakeholders, including community interests.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c939-40W; 203404;203405;204023

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Housing Public participation Research Students Housing market

Link

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