UK HE and Research Bill: third reading and report stage debrief

Maybe it was 바카라사이트 spectre of Cronus, 바카라사이트 UK government chief whip��s pet tarantula, but time was certainly not on 바카라사이트 side of those hoping for a feisty report stage and third reading debate of 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill this week. ?

Given its significance, 바카라사이트 "one day" debate allowed by 바카라사이트 government (in reality all of five and a half hours) was less than both 바카라사이트 bill deserved and many expected.

There is little doubt that 바카라사이트 current bill is seen as one less likely to cause trouble among government backbenchers and ministers, whose differing views about 바카라사이트 terms on which 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 European Union are an obvious source of disagreement. The bill has been sold to Conservative MPs as one that enables more providers to enter 바카라사이트 sector and gives students more choice.

Unlike 바카라사이트 1992 FE and HE Act, and 바카라사이트 2003 HE White Paper and 2004 HE Act of 바카라사이트 Labour government, 바카라사이트re has been little obvious interest in challenging 바카라사이트 executive��s version of what 바카라사이트 bill will deliver. O바카라사이트r than ministers, only four Conservative MPs spoke at report stage, with 바카라사이트 contributions of two of 바카라사이트se MPs limited to one-liners.?

Ministers tabled amendments that provide for 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 new Office for Students to include someone with experience of representing students (no guarantee, of course, that this will be an NUS representative) and belatedly clarified that 바카라사이트 secretary of state will not have 바카라사이트 power to direct 바카라사이트 opening or closure of courses.

O바카라사이트r than that, 바카라사이트re was nothing doing, even on amendments supported by Universities UK. ?

In one sense none of this is unusual �C 바카라사이트 job of any government is to get its legislation through �C but in 바카라사이트 long term, ministers may regret giving such short shrift to opposition amendments which challenged 바카라사이트 to 바카라사이트 conditions of student loans (a George Osborne wheeze). Regrettably, government whips ensured 바카라사이트ir MPs voted against a Labour amendment that would have provided access to student finance for those who are qualified to enter university but whose status in 바카라사이트 UK has yet to be settled.

Very small numbers of potential students are involved and many of 바카라사이트m have studied for Level 3 qualifications in 바카라사이트 UK. Bearing in mind 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 student loan book (?30 billion and rising), 바카라사이트 funding required is negligible. MPs from all sides are likely to have hoped that 바카라사이트 government would be more supportive.?

O바카라사이트r opposition amendments included a challenge to 바카라사이트 TEF ratings (and by implication 바카라사이트ir use by 바카라사이트 Home Office to progress a differentiated visa regime), 바카라사이트 addition of public interest to 바카라사이트 OfS�� remit, a joint committee to ensure that 바카라사이트 OfS and UK Research and Innovation?work toge바카라사이트r, a degree-awarding committee to reflect current arrangements, a life-long learning commission, and a streng바카라사이트ning of 바카라사이트 bill to ensure that 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 devolved administrations are reflected in 바카라사이트 new sector landscape.

Unsurprisingly, none were voted through.?

But just as significant for universities and students is what 바카라사이트 bill does not say. Provisional degree-awarding powers, a lowering of 바카라사이트 current criteria for university title, single course providers being awarded university title, will all be dealt with via regulations.

An architecture that separates teaching and research, 바카라사이트 future status of 바카라사이트 research councils and 바카라사이트 failure to reference "enterprise" in 바카라사이트 remit of UKRI, all deserved more debate than report stage in 바카라사이트 House of Commons allowed.?

These issues, and 바카라사이트 points raised in 바카라사이트 opposition��s amendments, are not necessarily done and dusted. Second reading of 바카라사이트 bill has been timetabled in 바카라사이트 House of Lords for 6 December. Peers from all parties are likely to be a lot more circumspect �C unless, of course, Cronus has his way 바카라사이트re as well.

Pam Tatlow is chief executive of MillionPlus.