Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Huppert Excerpts
Thursday 7th February 2013

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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I am well aware of Nissan’s importance to the north-east. I visited recently and have spoken to the senior management at Nissan about the Prime Minister’s speech to reassure them that we see a future for this country within a protected and enhanced single market. That is what is important for Nissan and many other companies in the sector.

Julian Huppert Portrait Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD)
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T9. My right hon. Friend will be aware of the growing funding problems for postgraduate students. Most have to pay large sums up front, borrowing from banks or their families if they are rich enough, which creates huge social mobility problems. Has he had a chance to look at the proposals in my policy paper, “Developing a future: Policies for science and research”, or, indeed, the very similar proposals from the Higher Education Commission and the National Union of Students?

Lord Willetts Portrait The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts)
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Postgraduate education is very important. We have maintained funding for it through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, but I am following with great interest the imaginative ideas being brought forward and we are open-minded if people have proposals for increasing access to borrowing and finance for postgraduates.