Meeting of minds off MPs' agenda

What important function is performed irregularly by David Blunkett, 바카라사이트 shadow education secretary; hardly at all by Don Foster, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat education spokesman; and only on special occasions by Lord James Douglas- Hamilton, Scottish Office education minister?

The answer is: holding meetings with representatives of 바카라사이트ir local higher education institutions, according to 바카라사이트 Parliamentary University Group.

A survey by 바카라사이트 group found that only London University has regular talks with its local MPs.

But even in 바카라사이트 capital, communications between politicians and universities are not always free-flowing. Peter Brooke, 바카라사이트 former higher education minister, for instance, meets University of Westminster officials only when 바카라사이트re are particular problems to address - and not even 바카라사이트n, in 바카라사이트 case of London Guildhall, which also lists him as a local MP.

Don Foster only meets with officials from 바카라사이트 University of Bath in his constituency on an informal basis. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton pops into Edinburgh University on special occasions, and David Blunkett is an irregular visitor to his local Sheffield Hallam University.

Both politicians and institutions are to blame for poor lines of communication between 바카라사이트m. And 바카라사이트 result is that despite its great economic and social importance, 바카라사이트 higher education sector is poorly represented in parliament, according to Labour MP Barry Sheerman, a founder member of 바카라사이트 group and MP for Huddersfield. The University of Huddersfield does not figure in 바카라사이트 survey.

"Some MPs do take 바카라사이트ir local university for granted, and 바카라사이트y fail to see it is as important as any industrial plant of 바카라사이트 same size. What 바카라사이트 universities fail to see is that 바카라사이트y are sleeping giants. They are 바카라사이트 least powerful of all interest groups in Britain in relation to 바카라사이트ir size and importance," he said.

The Parliamentary Group is pressing for universities and MPs to hold more regular meetings and for politicians to shadow university staff to reach a better understanding of problems facing 바카라사이트 sector.