1. MPs to debate Committee’s report on ‘Students and Universities’
MPs will debate the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee Report, ‘Students and Universities’ on Thursday
NUS welcomed a report which called for the establishment of a national bursary scheme for university students, and for the forthcoming review of higher education funding to look at alternatives to top up fees.
The report, entitled ‘Students and Universities’, stated:
“We favour a national bursary scheme, which would set a realistic national minimum bursary for all students across England. We recommend that the Government draw up and publish as part of the review of fees, and invite comments on, a national bursary scheme.”
“…we do agree with (NUS) that the review of fees should look more widely at the alternative methods of securing the funds. We recommend the Government’s review of fees look at the alternative methods of securing the funds needed to sustain a strong higher education sector and should not be concerned exclusively with the appropriate level of fees within the current structure.”
2. Government to unveil Pre-Budget Report
The Chancellor, Alistair Darling will make his Pre-Budget statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 December 2009 at 12:30. The Pre-Budget Report (PBR) will be released once the Chancellor concludes his statement.
The Pre-Budget Report (PBR) is one of two wide-ranging economic reports presented to Parliament each year. In the spring the Chancellor presents his annual Budget statement. Since 1997, the Chancellor has also presented a Pre-Budget Statement along with a Pre-Budget Report in the autumn. The PBR provides a progress report on what the Government has achieved since the previous Budget, gives an updated assessment of the state of the economy and public finances, and sets out the direction of Government policy in the run up to the spring Budget.
At the National Business Awards in November, the Chancellor said that he intends to continue investing in science, energy and transport. The Treasury website also states that the Pre-Budget Report will commit to funding frontline services and support for the economy.
The Telegraph has reported that Gordon Brown and Ed Balls—the Schools Secretary—want spending commitments to be the main message of the Pre-Budget Report to distinguish Labour from the Conservatives, particularly on frontline areas that are popular with voters such as education and the NHS.
The Chancellor is expected to announce savings won through reducing the number of senior civil servants and funding for quangos.
3. Student Christmas workers could get a tax gift
HMRC is reminding students doing temporary work over the Christmas period that they may not need to pay income tax on their earnings, if these are below their Personal Allowance for the year.
Jane Frost, Director of HMRC Individuals Customer Directorate, commented: “Before starting any vacation job, it’s a good idea to make sure you know about tax. Making sure your tax code is right from the start of your paid employment can save you money and is good training for life after graduation. We want to help students understand how the tax system works so they don’t pay more than they should and also get back what is due.”
4. Parliamentary Questions
Rowen - Student loans
30 November 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects all eligible students waiting for loan payments to have received such payments; and what assistance (a) Student Finance England and (b) his Department provides to students who are waiting for such payments. [301654]
Mr. Lammy: The Student Loans Company (SLC) has released figures on its website to show the levels of processing and payments made for Student Finance England for the 2009-10 academic year. I am advised that the Student Finance England is currently processing paper applications received from end of October, and on-line applications received from 15 November. Student Finance England expects to clear new cases within a four to six week turnaround time, subject to receipt of the appropriate evidence.
Every year a number of students apply after the deadline by which payment at the start of term is guaranteed. Student Finance England will have made interim payments to a number of these students to ensure that they can start their courses. In such cases, provided the applicant has supplied the relevant evidence by the end of October, Student Finance England will re-assess these applications and confirm whether any additional payments can be made, by 14 December 2009.
I am also assured by SLC that it is working closely with student support staff in the universities to resolve issues on cases where the student has not yet received their full entitlement.
Evennett - Higher Education and Student Finance Independent Review
3 December 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings his Department has had with the chair of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.
Mr. Lammy: The review is independent of Government and will provide regular updates to the Secretary of State as well as the right hon. David Willetts.
Williams, S - Students (Loans)
3 December 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of eligible students took out (a) a maintenance loan only, (b) a tuition fees loan only and (c) loans for maintenance and tuition from the Student Loans Company in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.
Mr. Lammy: In Academic Year 2007-08 it is estimated that around 80 per cent. of eligible students took out a maintenance loan. No estimate is available for tuition fee loans.
Willetts - Higher education funding (teaching grants)
30 November 2009 | House of Commons - Written Answer
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what average per-student teaching grant was received by each higher education institution in England for (a) UK and (b) non-UK EU undergraduate students in the latest period for which figures are available. [302501]
Mr. Lammy: For 2009/10 the amount of teaching grant per student can be calculated as follows (see notes in table).
£
Anglia Ruskin University 4,662
Aston University 4,304
University of Bath 4,265
Bath Spa University 3,981
University of Bedfordshire 4,345
Birkbeck College 4,753
University of Birmingham 4,879
Birmingham City University 4,579
University College Birmingham 4,935
Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln 4,221
University of Bolton 5,189
The Arts University College at Bournemouth 4,400
Bournemouth University 4,170
University of Bradford 4,683
University of Brighton 4,494
University of Bristol 5,589
Brunei University 4,121
Buckinghamshire New University 4,218
University of Cambridge 4,784
Canterbury Christ Church University 4,016
University of Central Lancashire 4,753
Central School of Speech and Drama 4,508
University of Chester 4,073
University of Chichester 4,069
City University, London 4,460
Courtauld Institute of Art 3,032
Coventry University 4,345
University for the Creative Arts 4,490
University of Cumbria 4,781
Conservatoire for Dance and Drama 4,738
De Montfort University 4,383
University of Derby 4,345
University of Durham 3,862
University of East Anglia 4,581
University of East London 4,656
Edge Hill University 4,519
Institute of Education 4,855
University of Essex 3,827
University of Exeter 4,086
University College Falmouth 4,061
University of Gloucestershire 3,887
Goldsmiths College, University of London 3,924
University of Greenwich 4,870
Guildhall School of Music and Drama 4,650
Harper Adams University College 5,814
University of Hertfordshire 4,138
Heythrop College 3,237
University of Huddersfield 4,624
University of Hull 4,292
Imperial College London 7,181
Keele University 4,722
University of Kent 3,812
King's College London 6,976
Kingston University 4,721
Lancaster University 3,531
University of Leeds 4,690
Leeds Metropolitan University 4,027
Leeds College of Music 4,138
Leeds Trinity University College 3,760
University of Leicester 4,719
University of Lincoln 4,085
University of Liverpool 5,725
Liverpool Hope University 4,089
Liverpool John Moores University 4,439
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts 4,122
University of the Arts London 4,595
London School of Economics and Political Science 3,273
London Metropolitan University 4,890
London South Bank University 4,819
Loughborough University 4,250
University of Manchester 4,758
Manchester Metropolitan University 4,052
Middlesex University 4,195
University of Newcastle upon Tyne 5,043
Newman University College 4,277
University of Northampton 4,069
University of Northumbria at Newcastle 4,318
Norwich University College of the Arts 4,423
University of Nottingham 4,693
Nottingham Trent University 4,124
Open University 5,426
School of Oriental and African Studies 3,438
University of Oxford 4,333
Oxford Brookes University 3,939
School of Pharmacy 6,172
University of Plymouth 4,706
University College Plymouth St. Mark and St. John 4,074
University of Portsmouth 4,065
Queen Mary, University of London 6,294
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 5,634
University of Reading 3,979
Roehampton University 4,254
Rose Bruford College 4,513
Royal Academy of Music 4,366
Royal Agricultural College 4,337
Royal College of Music 4,369
Royal Holloway, University of London 3,957
Royal Northern College of Music 3,969
Royal Veterinary College 13,620
St. George's Hospital Medical School 10,017
St Mary's University College 4,196
University of Salford 4,455
University of Sheffield 4,675
Sheffield Hallam University 4,182
University of Southampton 4,788
Southampton Solent University 4,192
Staffordshire University 4,626
Universities of East Anglia and Essex; Joint Provision at University Campus Suffolk 4,583
University of Sunderland 5,073
University of Surrey 4,035
University of Sussex 3,976
University of Teesside 5,079
Thames Valley University 5,164
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance 4,635
University College London 6,003
University of Warwick 4,259
University of the West of England, Bristol 4,071
University of Westminster 4,481
University of Winchester 3,643
University of Wolverhampton 4,886
University of Worcester 4,417
Writtle College 5,429
University of York 3,882
York St. John University 3,805
Notes: 1. The rates of funding are per full-time equivalent UK/EU student for 2009/10 and reflect the standard rates of grant provided for each institution through HEFCE's main teaching grant plus those other elements of its teaching grant that can be clearly attributed to undergraduate students (funding for widening access, improving retention, foundation degrees and part-time undergraduate students). It does not include other elements of teaching grant that are calculated at the whole institution level. 2. The figures also exclude income from tuition fees, other public funders such as the NHS and the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) or from other sources. 3. The main reason for variation in the rates of funding received by institutions is their mix of students between different subject areas. Hence the highest rates are received by institutions specialising in medicine or veterinary science and the lowest rates by institutions specialising in classroom-based subjects. Other causes of variation are the extent to which institutions receive funding to reflect their additional costs associated with widening participation and supporting students more at risk of not completing their studies, and their mix between full-time and part-time and between foundation degrees and other undergraduate students.