UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION

Early day motion 1894, tabled 23 March 2006 by Dari Taylor (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House applauds the success of the university sector; recognises the vital contribution universities make to economic, cultural and intellectual well-being; believes that the expansion of higher education has been generally a good thing for individuals and for society; supports the principle that all those who have the ability should have the right to access higher education; regrets that the opportunities and advantages arising from a university education are still not accessed equitably by students from poorer and less traditional backgrounds; rejects the proposition that growing numbers of those entering higher education are not, or will not, benefit from it; notes in particular that there will be an increased need to support opportunities to access higher education by mature full-time and part-time undergraduates as the number of 18 year olds declines after 2010; recognises that any policy which had reduction of participation in higher education as an objective would undermine individual opportunity, capacity for regional regeneration, innovation and the development of a professional and skilled workforce and would run directly counter to the expansionist higher education policies being pursued and funded by China and other emerging, competitor economies; and urges the Government to re-state the economic case for funding improved participation in higher education.

Signatures by party: Labour 48, Liberal Democrat 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, DUP 1.