Clause 22 - Power of Secretary of State to impose condition as to student fees, etc.
Higher Education Bill
3:30 pm
Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere, Conservative)
I have listened very carefully to my hon. Friend's point about action against individual institutions. Under this clause the Government can set a condition telling the Higher Education Funding Council in effect what to do. The Government have made it evident they intend to use that power to set conditions relating to the access plans that are to be agreed. Has my hon. Friend considered that, in the same way that the Government stand behind the HEFC on the conditions of grants, the Secretary of State is also standing behind the director of fair access to higher education in drawing up the plans? The director has to act under the guidance of the Secretary of State, so the Government are at both ends of the chain.