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Sale of Student Loans Bill

I had not expected the Minister to begin his peroration with a short statement in general terms on access to higher education. As he did so, however, may I briefly say that the Conservative party and the Conservative education team in Parliament are dedicated to the principle of widening access to higher education by all means? In that regard, and to reflect the intervention of the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis), one of the best ways of widening access is to look at modes of learning as well as at other factors. Part-time learning, modular learning and distance learning have a vital role to play in the mission of widening access and participation. However, that might be a debate for another day, Mr. Deputy Speaker, so I shall address the matters before us. We welcome the principle behind the Bill. As the Minister said, it transfers risks from the public to the private sector, but in a measured and careful way. Indeed, as the Minister and the House will know, at the last two general elections the Conservatives advocated similar plans, so it is ironic that the Minister suggests that we are imitating the Government—ironic that the Government’s plan for the sale of student loans appears to be on loan from the Conservative party; although, when we announced our plans, we proposed that the money raised should be used to endow universities—a point to which I shall return. The Bill is short and, seemingly, straightforward, but I want to bring a number of issues to the House’s attention. They will no doubt be scrutinised in detail in Committee and when the Bill goes through its other stages before becoming law.