Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ventilation in Universities: Government Funding

Monday 6 September 2021 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Christine Jardine asked the Government about funding for universities to ensure effective ventilation against covid-19 for the 2021-22 academic year.
  • The Government stated that higher education providers should assess covid-19 risks and implement necessary measures, including ventilation, based on provided guidance.
  • The Minister noted that education is devolved and mentioned technical limitations with CO2 monitors for university settings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Education
Context

The MP asked about the government's provision of funding to universities for ventilation systems to protect students from the virus during the 2021-22 academic year. There were concerns over the adequacy of measures taken by institutions.

Question

What funding the Government have provided to universities for effective ventilation to help safeguard students against covid-19 in the 2021-22 academic year?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Higher education providers should complete suitable and sufficient assessments of the risk of covid-19 and identify measures to manage those risks, including ensuring adequate ventilation based on our comprehensive guidance. As autonomous institutions, it is for providers to put in place their plans based on individual circumstances, including allocating their own budgets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific funding figures or commitments regarding ventilation systems in universities.

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Q2 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Education
Context

The MP questioned the effectiveness of current measures in providing a safe learning environment for students and sought clarity on whether successful pilot testing in schools would be extended to university settings.

Question

Notwithstanding the Minister's comments, there are still huge gaps in what needs to be done to provide a safe learning environment for students up and down the country. Students, including many from my Edinburgh West constituency, have already had two academic years disrupted and proper ventilation will be vital to preventing a third, so will the Minister make a commitment here and now that if the schools test pilot currently under way proves successful, it will also be rolled out in our universities?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

The hon. Member talks of Edinburgh university but I am sure she will understand that education is in fact devolved. She also refers to the CO2 monitoring devices that are being allocated this term to schools; however, technical limitations mean that CO2 monitors are likely to be unsuitable for many spaces in universities, particularly those with high ceilings.

Not addressed: Changed the subject by addressing devolved responsibility and technical limitations of CO2 monitoring devices instead of committing to roll out such measures.

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