(2) what assessment he has made of the ability of universities to provide support and impartial service to students equivalent to that offered under the Aimhigher programme.

(2) what assessment he has made of the ability of universities to provide support and impartial service to students equivalent to that offered under the Aimhigher programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he considered the merits of restructuring the Aimhigher programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he considered the merits of restructuring the Aimhigher programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the number of activities to be delivered (a) following the end of the Aimhigher programme and (b) in the academic year 2011-12; and how such activities will be delivered;

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the number of activities to be delivered (a) following the end of the Aimhigher programme and (b) in the academic year 2011-12; and how such activities will be delivered;

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many potential students the Aimhigher programme reached in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many potential students the Aimhigher programme reached in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many potential students were reached by Aim Higher in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many potential students were reached by Aim Higher in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of activities delivered under the Aimhigher programme for young people from low-income backgrounds wishing to go to university in each year since 2004 under the programme; and how many activities he expects to be...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of activities delivered under the Aimhigher programme for young people from low-income backgrounds wishing to go to university in each year since 2004 under the programme; and how many activities he expects to be...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the abolition of the ““Aim Higher”” programme will have on people from lower socio-economic groups wishing to continue into higher education.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the abolition of the ““Aim Higher”” programme will have on people from lower socio-economic groups wishing to continue into higher education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Aimhigher in Merseyside in improving educational aspiration and attainment; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Aimhigher in Merseyside in improving educational aspiration and attainment; and if he will make a statement.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on higher education.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on higher education.

When did the hon. Lady change her mind about fees, or is she totally, wholly and implacably opposed to fees of any kind?

When did the hon. Lady change her mind about fees, or is she totally, wholly and implacably opposed to fees of any kind?

My hon. Friend the Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) and I were veterans of the bloody battles that were fought in the Labour party over a market in higher education. The Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats agreed with us. The key achievement all those years...

My hon. Friend the Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) and I were veterans of the bloody battles that were fought in the Labour party over a market in higher education. The Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats agreed with us. The key achievement all those years...

I will happily give way, but I am not going to give way too much because of the time. I want to cover all the points that have been raised.

I will happily give way, but I am not going to give way too much because of the time. I want to cover all the points that have been raised.

It is a privilege to join the debate led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), not least because he has a distinguished record championing the widening participation agenda as a Minister, a point others have touched on. Although I have a slight problem with his...

It is a privilege to join the debate led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), not least because he has a distinguished record championing the widening participation agenda as a Minister, a point others have touched on. Although I have a slight problem with his...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

It a pleasure to speak in this debate, Mr Betts, and I congratulate the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) on securing it. I acknowledge that we both care deeply about this subject, and we have debated it over many years. It was especially fortuitous of him to secure...

It a pleasure to speak in this debate, Mr Betts, and I congratulate the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) on securing it. I acknowledge that we both care deeply about this subject, and we have debated it over many years. It was especially fortuitous of him to secure...

I am grateful for the chance to take part in this valuable debate. I congratulate my friend and colleague, the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), on obtaining this important debate. My Government had an excellent record in further and higher education, particularly when he was a Minister in...

I am grateful for the chance to take part in this valuable debate. I congratulate my friend and colleague, the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), on obtaining this important debate. My Government had an excellent record in further and higher education, particularly when he was a Minister in...

I am afraid that I did not attract the Minister's attention. I have always been against tuition fees; I have marched through the Lobby against them. It gives me no pleasure to say that I knew it would end up like this, with Tory Ministers such as the hon. Member...

I am afraid that I did not attract the Minister's attention. I have always been against tuition fees; I have marched through the Lobby against them. It gives me no pleasure to say that I knew it would end up like this, with Tory Ministers such as the hon. Member...

My hon. Friend makes a good point. There is a further message within the Government's announcement, about social sciences, arts and humanities courses. The Government are sending out the message that they are not valued by the country. That will, I am sure, also be a factor in students' decisions....

My hon. Friend makes a good point. There is a further message within the Government's announcement, about social sciences, arts and humanities courses. The Government are sending out the message that they are not valued by the country. That will, I am sure, also be a factor in students' decisions....

I know that the hon. Gentleman is a devotee of Steve Smith's words on this subject. This afternoon, following the statement, he said:"““We believe that this package of proposals represents the best available funding system for universities.””"

I know that the hon. Gentleman is a devotee of Steve Smith's words on this subject. This afternoon, following the statement, he said:"““We believe that this package of proposals represents the best available funding system for universities.””"

I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) on securing the debate. I know how passionately he feels about participation, and was pleased to join him, when he was the Minister for Higher Education, on a visit to Sheffield's Aimhigher programme. We were both impressed by...

I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) on securing the debate. I know how passionately he feels about participation, and was pleased to join him, when he was the Minister for Higher Education, on a visit to Sheffield's Aimhigher programme. We were both impressed by...