1. Policy Exchange: 'target culture' threat to UK research and development
The centre-right think tank Policy Exchange has published a new report which has found that Government policy misunderstands the crucial role universities play in stimulating innovation and enterprise.
The report, ‘Innovation and Industry: The Role of Universities’ claims universities could form a key part of Britain’s economic recovery by acting as incubators of business and providers of expertise.
Anna Fazackerley, Head of Policy Exchange’s Education Unit and author of the report, said: ‘The danger is that the Government wants to pick winners in research and may make funding more prescriptive, and politicians are becoming more concerned with hard and fast ‘proof’ of returns. Even now, research councils are asking researchers to predict the impact of their research when they are making a grant application, and before they have even started their work. Instead of trying to turn scientists into innovators and going down a path driven by targets, we should focus on ways to make collaboration between universities and businesses easier.’
2. Lammy quizzed about student debt repayment threshold
Hoyle - Students' Loans
Tue, 24 November 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the merits of increasing the salary threshold at which people are required to make payments towards their student loans.
Mr. Lammy: The repayment threshold is currently £15,000. The threshold is agreed between my Department and the Devolved Administrations. Early this year, the decision to raise the threshold from April 2010 by inflation was cancelled because the relevant RPI rate was negative, meaning the threshold would have been reduced and borrowers would have had to pay more. Instead the threshold was frozen at £15,000 for a further 12 months. We will be considering the threshold for April 2011 early in the new year.
Rowen - Student loan statistics
Wed, 25 November 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students applied for loans through Student Finance England for the academic year 2009-10; how many students were waiting for student loan payments on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [301653]
Mr. Lammy: The Student Loans Company has released figures to show current levels of applications, processing and payment of student support in England for the 2009/10 academic year on its website. I am advised that SLC is still receiving several thousand new applications each week.
3. Liberal Democrats raise concerns over student finance
Brooke, A - Students' Finance (Waiting Lists)
Tue, 24 November 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the number of applications for finance made to Student Finance England which are awaiting decision; and if he will make a statement. [300917]
Mr. Lammy: The Student Loans Company has released figures to show the levels of processing and payment of Student Support in England for the 2009/10 academic year. The information is available on the Student Loans Company website and includes information, under "application status", on "applications currently being processed" and "further information required from student/sponsors".
Brooke - Students (Finance)
Tue, 24 November 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average time taken to process applications for finance made to Student Finance England for the 2009-10 academic year; and if he will make a statement. [300918]
Mr. Lammy: I am informed by the SLC that, for those Student Finance England applications for both new students and those returning to University which had been approved by 1 November 2009, the average number of days from the date the applications were submitted to the date they were approved was 31 days.
Brooke, A - Students (Finance)
Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the length of time for which Student Finance England has retained the passports of applicants for funding; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lammy: I have received two representations from applicants of Student Finance England complaining that passports had not yet been returned. Both were advised on the reasons for the delay and have now had their passports returned.
4. Conservatives secure debate on future of higher education
Rob Wilson MP, former Shadow HE Minister and now Conservative Whip has secured a Westminster Hall debate on the future of higher education on Tuesday 1 December 9.30am-11.00am.