Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bridget Phillipson and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Monday 19th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Joseph Johnson]

The hon. Gentleman will have seen the amendment that the Government tabled to the Bill ensuring that there will be at least one member of the UKRI board with experience of the excellent research that goes on in at least one of our devolved Administrations.

[Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab)]

T7. Universities such as Sunderland do a fantastic job in supporting part-time and mature students into higher education. Ministers claim to want to support this, so why was funding for widening participation cut by 50% in the autumn statement?

[Joseph Johnson]

The hon. Lady will be encouraged to see that spending on access agreements will increase to some £800 million in the next financial year, up from about £400 million when the previous coalition Government came into office, almost doubling the amount being spent on this important area.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bridget Phillipson and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Tuesday 10th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab)]

T6. In his Green Paper, the Minister says that he wants to improve access to higher education for the most disadvantaged students. Will he match that rhetoric with action and protect the student opportunity fund, which does so much to support young people from across the country in realising their full potential?

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Joseph Johnson)]

Yes, indeed. In the Green Paper, we set out various proposals on which we want to consult with the sector. I have also announced the creation of a social mobility taskforce, which is to report back to me by Christmas with proposals on how to meet the Prime Minister’s ambitious target of doubling the proportion of people from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend university by 2020.