Off-quota University Places Debate

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Ben Bradshaw

Main Page: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)

Off-quota University Places

Ben Bradshaw Excerpts
Tuesday 10th May 2011

(13 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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It is the case. I have read with interest the reaction to the speculation today. I was struck by a comment released today by the chief executive of GuildHE:

“Providing off-quota places can be socially progressive.”

He went on to say:

“This could give students of all backgrounds a wider set of choices, including whether or not to take out a long term loan.”

That gentleman is, of course, the former special adviser to the shadow Secretary of State.

Ben Bradshaw Portrait Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)
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Chaos on health policy; Ministers rowing in public about whether to abandon our carbon reductions; and now this, all in the space of 24 hours: is this not the most serially incompetent Government in living memory? When will the Prime Minister get a grip?

Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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I do not know what the right hon. Gentleman is getting quite so aerated about. The Government are committed to improving social mobility and to easing the controls under which universities function. We will put forward proposals in the White Paper to achieve precisely those objectives.