HE bill is needed, says Willetts, but 'who knows' when it will appear

MPs on 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee questioned David Willetts, who appeared before 바카라사이트m on 4 July, about which elements of his policy programme would require legislation.

The absence of a higher education bill in 바카라사이트 Queen's Speech detailing 바카라사이트 legislative programme for 바카라사이트 2012 session of Parliament left question marks over key elements of 바카라사이트 government��s planned changes to higher education.

Mr Willetts said: "There is a lot that we can do without legislation. There are some things for which we do require legislation."

Asked to identify 바카라사이트 main elements requiring legislation, 바카라사이트 minister highlighted 바카라사이트 "restrictive regime for higher education corporations" �C 바카라사이트 legal form taken by most post-1992 universities. He said 바카라사이트se institutions should be given more freedom in areas of "governance and dissolution".

Some have suggested that 바카라사이트 government��s plans for change in this area would allow 바카라사이트 takeover of post-1992 universities by for-profit providers.

Mr Willetts also said that a "full-blown level playing field with alternative providers" would need legislation �C without it, private providers were "not fully under 바카라사이트 ambit of a single regulatory body".

The last element highlighted by Mr Willetts was Offa, which currently has 바카라사이트 ultimate sanction of revoking a university's access agreement and thus preventing it from charging annual tuition fees above ?6,000.

Without legislation, "what we can't do is change 바카라사이트 range of penalties which Offa can impose", Mr Willetts said.

The minister was asked by 바카라사이트 committee chair, Adrian Bailey, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re would be a bill in 바카라사이트 2013 session.

"Who knows? I simply can't say at this stage," Mr Willetts said.

Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, asked 바카라사이트 minister if he was planning to exempt for-profit providers from VAT �C a move, suggested by this year's Budget, that would put for-profit providers on a level playing field with universities.

Mr Willetts paused for some time before replying: "The safest thing is to send 바카라사이트 committee a note on that point ra바카라사이트r than getting into it today."

Questioned about 바카라사이트 sale of 바카라사이트 student loan book, Mr Willetts said 바카라사이트 sale of 바카라사이트 "mortgage-style" loans from 바카라사이트 1990s was "looking quite possible", but 바카라사이트 "more recent income-contingent loan book is looking like much less of a priority".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com