London Metropolitan University

Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) allocated to London Metropolitan University in each of the last five years; what amount was returned to HEFCE in each of those years due to course non-completion; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lammy
[holding answer 8 December 2009]: I will place a copy of this information in the Libraries of the House.

Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on (a) full-time, (b) part-time, (c) drop-out and (d) course completion rates at London Metropolitan University in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lammy
[holding answer 8 December 2009]: I will place a copy of this information in the Libraries of the House.

Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking following the consultants’ report on the finances of London Metropolitan University in respect of future funding; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lammy
[holding answer 8 December 2009]: I welcome the work Sir David Melville and the Deloittes team have undertaken to review the situation at London Metropolitan University, and the lessons we need to learn about how that situation arose. I shall be studying the reports carefully. I look to the University and HEFCE similarly to consider Sir David’s findings and the implications for the actions they now need to take. It is imperative that the University and HEFCE act with all due urgency to resolve the problems that have been identified, putting the interests of the students and the proper stewardship of public funds at the forefront of their concerns.