MPs debate higher education funding
8 January 2015
On Thursday 8 January, MPs took part in a debate on a motion relating to higher education funding. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
It was opened by Mr Adrian Bailey, Labour MP for West Bromwich West. Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, Liam Byrne, responded to the debate on behalf of the Opposition. Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark, responded on behalf of the Government.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate higher education funding
- Read Commons Hansard: MPs debate higher education funding
Text of the Motion
MPs debated the following motion:
'That this House notes the Third Report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, Student Loans, HC 558, and the Government response, HC 777; and calls on the Government to outline proposals that will sustain funding for the sector while addressing the projected deficit in public funding.'
Relevant documents
Third Report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, Student Loans, HC 558 and the Government response, HC 777.
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representation from Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Brian Binley and Paul Blomfield at the public meeting on Tuesday 2 December 2014.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee 2 December 2014
- Transcript of oral evidence heard on 2 December 2014
Further Information
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.
An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.