Higher Education Bill — New Clause 1 — General Duties of the Director — 31 Mar 2004 at 14:15

The majority of MPs voted against a proposal that the Director of the Office for fair Access (Offa) ought: ensure access to higher education is based upon academic ability and potential; promote equality of opportunity; maintain university independence; and impose a minimal regulatory burden on institutions.

The rejected new clause which had been proposed read:

• (1) The Director must perform his functions under this Part in such a way as to ensure full access to higher education based upon academic ability and potential.
• (2) In performing his functions under this Part the Director shall also have regard to—
• (a) the desirability of promoting equality of opportunity in connection with access to higher education,
• (b) the requirement to maintain the independence of the procedures for the admission of students of individual institutions, and
• (c) the desirability of securing that his powers are exercised in such a way as to impose the minimum necessary burdens of cost and compliance with regulation on institutions.

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |