Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Office for Students

Monday 9 September 2024 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The report of the independent review of the Office for Students was published on 26 July.
  • Sir David Behan, who led the review, was appointed to improve the relationship with the Office for Students.
  • The Labour Government aims to strengthen the Office for Students' strategic objective to widen participation in communities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Aldridge Lab Weston-super-Mare
Education
Context

Assessment requested on the effectiveness of the Office for Students.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Office for Students?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

For too long, universities have been treated as political battlegrounds. This Labour Government will treat them as engines of opportunity and growth. On 26 July, I published the report of the independent review of the Office for Students and appointed Sir David Behan, who led the review, as the interim chair.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness assessment was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington
Context

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee presented a report last year that was critical of the Office for Students.

Question

What plans does she have to reset the relationship with the OfS so that it gives renewed focus to the students that it is supposed to represent?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I thank my hon. Friend for all his work in this important area to ensure that our universities are recognised as a crucial part of how we drive growth in our country. Sir David's review, which we published in July, is a platform for improvement, and I welcome and accept its core findings.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete plans were not provided.

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Q3 Dan Aldridge Lab Weston-super-Mare
Education
Context

University Centre Weston has transformed access to higher education in the town.

Question

How will the Labour Government seek to strengthen the strategic objective of the Office for Students to widen participation in communities such as mine?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I strongly agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of widening participation, and he sets out clearly how universities are a key part of towns and cities right across our country. The last Government wanted to use our world-leading sector as a political football.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans for strengthening strategic objectives were not provided.

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Q4 Jesse Norman Con Hereford and South Herefordshire
Business & Trade
Context

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering is offering new opportunities to young people.

Question

Does the right hon. Lady share my view that this is a deeply worthwhile enterprise that could be replicated around the country, and will she come and visit herself?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising this matter. I would be happy to meet with him to discuss it further.

Not addressed: No specific agreement or visit confirmation was given.

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Q5 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Education Foreign Affairs
Context

There are concerns about the influence of hostile states on the higher education sector.

Question

Does the Secretary of State share the concerns about reports that Peking University HSBC Business School in Oxford may be partly operating under Chinese Communist party rules, and does she expect the Office for Students to investigate that?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

The shadow Minister will know that the Office for Students is independent, but I will ensure that it looks very carefully at the concerns that he has set out, and addresses them accordingly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete confirmation or investigation timeline was not provided.

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