CABINET WRITTEN STATEMENT
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TITLE: STUDENT SUPPORT AND HE FUNDING
IN WALES
DATE: 17 July 2003 |
BY: Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Education &
Lifelong Learning
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| Most functions affecting higher education
in Wales have been devolved to the Welsh Assembly. One
exception is statutory support for higher education students
which is administered by the Department for Education
and Skills both for England and Wales. |
| I am very glad to announce, simultaneously
with colleagues in Westminster, that agreement has been
reached with UK Cabinet colleagues as to the way ahead.
The intention is to bring forward legislation which will
provide the National Assembly with new powers over the
fees charged for higher education and over the support
provided to students in higher and further education. |
| I have been in detailed discussions about
the Assembly's position with Charles Clarke, Secretary
of State for Education and Skills and Peter Hain, Secretary
of State for Wales, for some months. We are pleased to
have reached agreement on the broad principles which should
underpin the devolution provisions in connection with
the tuition fee regime, access regulation, and the student
support system in forthcoming legislation. |
| There is still a good deal of work to do as
regards the fine detail of the legislative proposals and
about the take over of the tuition fee regimes and components
of the student support system for Wales. Much of this
work on the financial, operational and practical implications
will be of a highly technical nature. We shall continue
to work on the detail over the summer and I would hope
to make a further statement in the autumn before any legislation
is introduced at Westminster. |
| The Assembly Government's view is that the
forthcoming UK Government legislation should provide us
with discretion over the commencement date for the change.
It should also be flexible enough to ensure an effective
and manageable transfer which is as seamless and secure
as possible from the perspective of learners as customers.
It is envisaged that powers over the tuition fee regime
would be commenced prior to the academic year 2006/7.
This would enable the Welsh Assembly Government to meet
its manifesto commitment that 'top-up' fees (variable
fees) will not be introduced during the lifetime of the
second Assembly. Quite separately, September 2006 is the
earliest admissions round for which it would be practicable
to transfer the student support system to Wales. |
| Devolution of the student support powers will
mean that in line with arrangements in Scotland and Northern
Ireland, the Assembly will be responsible for HE and student
support. This will mean that we can take a 'whole system'
view and-over time, design and deliver a student support
function which is consistent with the Assembly Government's
wider strategy for HE and in particular our Access and
Social Inclusion agendas. |
| In recognition of the need to give proper
consideration to future variable fees policy and the devolution
of the student support function to Wales I shall be establishing
an independent study of the issues with the interests
of the Welsh HE sector firmly in view once again Chaired
by Professor Teresa Rees. |
| The study group will be expected to examine
the issue of variable fees and advise me on the way forward
for Wales. It will also provide advice on how we might
use devolved student support powers to achieve the best
possible outcomes for Wales. |
| The Assembly Cabinet will be examining progress
on these devolution proposals step-by-step. Our full and
final decisions will be taken in the light of further
work with Westminster colleagues and in consultation with
the sector, students, local education authorities, this
Committee and others. |
| Devolution of these functions represents an
exciting opportunity to build on our commitment to social
justice - especially as regards widening access and establishing
an even stronger HE sector in Wales. These remain our
key priorities. |
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