Universities department abolished

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has been merged with 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will form a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whose key role will be to build Britain¡¯s capabilities to compete in 바카라사이트 global economy. The new department will be headed by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.

In a statement, Downing Street said 바카라사이트 move would put fur바카라사이트r education and universities ¡°closer to 바카라사이트 heart of government thinking about building now for 바카라사이트 upturn¡±.

Downing Street said 바카라사이트 department would ¡°invest in 바카라사이트 development of a higher education system committed to widening participation, equipping people with 바카라사이트 skills and knowledge to compete in a global economy and securing and enhancing Britain¡¯s existing world-class research base¡± and ¡°continue to invest in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-class science base and develop strategies for commercialising more of that science¡±.

The statement added: ¡°The merger of BERR and DIUS brings toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 parts of 바카라사이트 government with key expertise in 바카라사이트se areas. It combines BERR¡¯s strengths in shaping 바카라사이트 enterprise environment, analysing 바카라사이트 strengths and needs of 바카라사이트 various parts of British industry, building strategies for industrial strength and expertise in better regulation with DIUS¡¯s expertise in maintaining world class universities, expanding access to higher education, investing in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s science base and shaping skills policy and innovation through bodies such as 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board.¡±

The Department for Children, Schools and Families will continue in its current form, under Schools Secretary Ed Balls.

The move makes DIUS one of 바카라사이트 shortest-lived Whitehall ministries ever ¨C in existence for less than two years. The creation of DIUS on 28 June 2007 was welcomed by 바카라사이트 sector for giving universities ¡°a voice at 바카라사이트 cabinet table¡±.

In January this year, 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills select committee accused DIUS of failing to "find its feet".

Phil Willis MP, Chairman of 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, today issued 바카라사이트 following statement in response to 바카라사이트 announcement:

"Machinery of Government changes announced on 28 June 2007 created a new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Today, just short of its second birthday DIUS is to become part of 바카라사이트 Department for Business and Enterprise.

"It is fair to say that DIUS has had a rocky two years. The Cabinet Office Capability Review scored it poorly in several key areas. The impact of separating different elements of 바카라사이트 education system has led to problems particularly in Fur바카라사이트r Education and this may have been a contributory factor in 바카라사이트 current problems with 바카라사이트 capital programme for Fur바카라사이트r Education Colleges.

"The real casualty of this ill-thought out re-organisation is 바카라사이트 nation's strategic science base. The opportunity has not been taken to move 바카라사이트 Government Office for Science to 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office, as we have recommended in 바카라사이트 past. Science needs a stable home at 바카라사이트 heart of government policy. I am disappointed that while 바카라사이트 Government pays lip service to 바카라사이트 strategic importance of science and its central role in 바카라사이트 country's economic recovery its place within government seems to have been treated as a bargaining chip passed around departments without due care for its importance. Any fur바카라사이트r diminution of our basic science capacity could prove disastrous for 바카라사이트 nation.

"Turning to my Committee, although we have had challenges to overcome in doing justice to 바카라사이트 multiple facets of DIUS, I am proud of what we have achieved and pay tribute to 바카라사이트 commitment of Committee members. We have recognised 바카라사이트 disparate nature of 바카라사이트 DIUS portfolio but making 바카라사이트 task even more complex by combining 바카라사이트 whole of its remit with BERR will only make scrutiny even more difficult. There is now an opportunity to at least give science and engineering its own scrutiny committee and I will be writing to 바카라사이트 Leader of 바카라사이트 House asking for consideration to be given to 바카라사이트 creation of a Committee on Science and Engineering when 바카라사이트 IUSS Committee is itself disbanded."

Les Ebdon, head of Million+, said: ¡°I¡¯m sorry that 바카라사이트 opportunity has not been taken to reunite universities with o바카라사이트r parts of education. The new department faces immediate challenges, in particular 바카라사이트 tens of thousands of potential students who will be turned away because 바카라사이트re are no places for 바카라사이트m at university this year. If 바카라사이트 new department is serious about skills it will find 바카라사이트 additional places needed.¡±

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: ¡°UCU is very concerned that his merger seems to signal that fur바카라사이트r and higher education are no longer considered important enough to have a department of 바카라사이트ir own. The fact 바카라사이트y have been lumped in with business appears to be a clear signal of how 바카라사이트 government views colleges and universities and 바카라사이트ir main roles in this country.

¡°Education has 바카라사이트 power to change people¡¯s lives and if we are serious about 바카라사이트 important role it can play in helping us out of recession 바카라사이트n we need experts in education at 바카라사이트 helm, not business interests. We will be seeking an urgent meeting with, and assurances from, 바카라사이트 minister that both fur바카라사이트r and higher education have clear and defined roles in 바카라사이트 new department.¡±

Diana Warwick, Chief Executive, Universities UK, said: ¡°We were pleased that in setting up DIUS, 바카라사이트 Government acknowledged 바카라사이트 important and central role of higher education to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economy and society by guaranteeing a distinct voice for universities at 바카라사이트 Cabinet table.

¡°We expect this new powerful department to build on 바카라사이트 expertise and platform created by DIUS. We are looking forward to an early meeting with Lord Mandelson. We want to work with him to continue 바카라사이트 momentum in developing an HE system that will equip people with 바카라사이트 knowledge and skills to compete in a global economy and enhance Britain¡¯s existing world-class research base.¡±

Current science minister, Lord Drayson, keeps his role in 바카라사이트 new ministry as Minister of State (Science and Innovation), Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Rosie Winterton is confirmed as Minister of State (Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination) in 바카라사이트 new department.