Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Anna Soubry and Mark Menzies

Wednesday 4th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

10. If the Government will make an assessment of access to university education for people from the lowest income families in (a) England and (b) Scotland.

[The Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (Anna Soubry)]

I am very pleased to report that the most recent UCAS statistics show a record year for university entry for disadvantaged students domiciled in England: 18.2% in 2014 compared with 13.6% in 2009. Unfortunately, the situation in Scotland is not as good; only 10% of the poorest 20% of Scots attend university, which is very concerning.

[Mark Menzies]

My right hon. Friend the Minister anticipated my supplementary question. As someone who came from a working-class background from the west coast of Scotland and who went to university in Scotland, I am deeply concerned about how Scotland is now lagging behind England and how working-class poor people are losing out.

[Anna Soubry]

It may sound strange: an English Tory elected to a Scottish university, but as a former honorary president of Stirling university—an outstanding university—I share my hon. Friend’s concerns, and indeed the Scottish Government could learn a great deal from the experience of the English universities.