Higher Education Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 5:04 pm on 25 May 2004.

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Photo of Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Conservative 5:04, 25 May 2004

I very much hope that the Minister will be able to accept the amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Butler of Brockwell, which seems to me eminently sensible. Also, it has the merit of enshrining on the face of the Bill commitments that were made in the other place. I also think—I was a little disappointed by the Minister's response to the previous debate—that the amendment guides the Bill in the right direction on the role that OFFA should play, if we have to have it. It should not be a kind of authoritarian organisation taking a view but an organisation which encourages best practice and encourages people to do their best. The amendment would provide a welcome balance, which I would have thought would place the role of OFFA on a much better basis with the institutions. If OFFA is not able to establish a good relationship with those institutions, both will fail in their purpose.