Jo Johnson and Charles Clarke to give evidence to Lords Office for Students inquiry
Friday 10 March 2023
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee will hear from Lord Johnson of Marylebone (former Minister of State for Universities, Science and Innovation) and Charles Clarke (former Secretary of State for Education and Skills), as it continues its inquiry into the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator of the higher education sector in England.
The session will run from 10.30am until 12.00pm on Tuesday 14 March and can be followed live on Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster.
Possible questions include:
- Are the OfS’ statutory duties clear and appropriate? Has it been given a clear job to do by Parliament?
- To what extent is the OfS’ work determined by the Government? Is the guidance the Government issues the regulator too prescriptive?
- Has the Government provided clarity on its overall policy or strategy for the higher education sector, especially given the absence of the expected influx of providers into the sector following the OfS’ establishment?
- How does the OfS evaluate whether higher education provides value for money?
- How does the OfS engage with students, and to what extent does student input drive the OfS’ view of their interests and its regulatory framework?
- What financial risks does the higher education sector face? Are these risks limited to particular groups of providers or are they widespread or systemic in nature?
The Committee’s call for evidence for the inquiry is open until Friday 7 April. Details how to submit evidence are available on the Committee’s website.
