Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

University Teaching and Student Services: Covid-19

Monday 12 October 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister announced a package of measures in May to support universities during the covid-19 outbreak.
  • Government prioritized education and reopening universities to prevent damaging social mobility and punishing young people.
  • Universities are offering blended learning unless they have moved to a higher covid tier, in conjunction with local Public Health England team.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bim Afolami Con
Education
Context

The MP seeks information on recent steps taken to ensure universities can deliver safe teaching and student services amid the ongoing pandemic.

Question

What recent steps has the Minister taken to help ensure that universities can deliver safe (a) teaching and (b) student services during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

We announced a package of measures in May to support the sector. We have also issued guidance on reopening, reflecting advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, and we have worked with universities to ensure that they have outbreak plans that are shared with their local Public Health England teams. We will shortly provide additional guidance on winter planning and end-of-term preparations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify details of the May package or exact timeline for winter guidance.

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Q2 Tom Randall
Education
Context

A constituent wrote to express hope for a safe start to the new academic year, suggesting specific testing and monitoring systems might help provide additional safety.

Question

Why was it important to reopen universities? Does my hon. Friend agree with my constituent's suggestion that specific testing and monitoring systems for universities might help to provide a safety net for very close-knit groups?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

This Government have prioritised education. We simply cannot ask students to put their lives, or their academic journeys, on hold. To do so would mean removing opportunities, damaging social mobility and punishing young people. The education and welfare of students is at the forefront of all our decisions. That is why we have worked and continue to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that students get access to tests if symptomatic so that the trace work can kick in immediately.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether specific testing and monitoring systems should be implemented.

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Q3 Bim Afolami Con
Education
Context

Several constituents reported dissatisfaction with their universities' handling of face-to-face teaching, social contact restrictions, and food parcel charges.

Question

Could she and the Department help me to understand why several universities are not giving face-to-face teaching at all, even in an appropriate socially distanced way; are being extremely draconian in the way that certain students are being treated in terms of their social contact, which is a critical part of being at university; and, in some cases, are even charging £18 a day for food parcels? Could the Minister put appropriate pressure on universities—not all of them but those that are not performing—to sort this out?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Universities are offering blended learning unless they have moved to a higher covid tier, in conjunction with their local Public Health England team. But let me be clear: no university should seek to profit from students self-isolating, and reported charges of £18 a day for food parcels are quite simply outrageous. Students self-isolating in catered halls should receive free food, while other students should receive food that is either free—as many universities, including Sheffield Hallam and Edge Hill, are doing—or at a price that can be afforded within a student's budget. I have spoken to many universities on this, and I am also writing to them to make the point.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify actions taken against universities charging for food parcels or address all aspects of the question.

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