Westminster Weekly: 30 June – 7 July

1.Former Education Minister calls for tax on all graduates

The former Labour education minister Tessa Blackstone has suggested a tax on all degree holders, past and future. A graduate tax on everyone who had benefited from higher education, including those who went to university years ago was proposed at a conference on higher education. Baroness Blackstone, now vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, said she would as a graduate be happy to contribute, despite having studied more than 40 years ago.

At a conference, she said: "I think there's a very good argument for a graduate tax, and there's even an argument for introducing a graduate tax on people like me who graduated many years ago. Everyone in this room who graduated, wherever it was, has benefited from the advantages of higher education, and I would be prepared to put a bit back."

At the same event NUS President Wes Streeting criticised the Government and the higher education sector for avoiding a debate about fees in advance of next year's review. He warned: "Everything has gone eerily quiet. Suddenly the Government doesn't want to talk about higher education funding, the Opposition are eerily quiet ... the Conservatives ... in terms of policy detail are absolutely absent from the debate, and vice-chancellors and universities are also very quiet."

2. Government urged to intervene in row over rejected Imperial student

NUS called on 3 July for the Government to step in after Imperial College, London confirmed it would not be reconsidering the decision despite widespread criticism.

Ministers were placed under pressure to intervene in a row over Imperial College London's decision to withdraw an offer to a straight A-grade student from one of the poorest areas in the country because of a past, spent criminal conviction.

NUS President Wes Streeting warned: "It's alarming. It says people can't make mistakes without ruining their lives. We understand that governments can't interfere in university autonomy but the government has a responsibility to show moral leadership here and find out what went wrong."

3. Rammell unveils performance framework for further education

Higher Education Minister, Bill Rammell launched a new assessment system for further education colleges on 27 June , with the aim of driving up performance in the sector.

The Framework for Excellence, due to be operational in 2010, will enable students and employers to choose the learning provider best suited to their needs, and encourage the system to become more self-regulating.

Commenting, the Minister said: 'The new performance measures will mean that every prospective student and employer wanting to access further education will be able to see the quality and responsiveness they can expect from an institution. The Framework for Excellence will help to continue the process of driving up the performance of all colleges and learning and I urge all colleges and learning providers to take this opportunity to show the quality of the provision they provide.'

Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts e said: "On the information that we have got, I think Imperial College's decision is very odd. This guy has done the right thing; he has turned his life around, he has committed himself to study and I think it would be fantastic that someone like him could go forward and become a medical student."

4. Education and Skills Bill progresses in Lords

The Education and Skills has completed its first three days at Committee Stage in the House of Lords and will return to be debated at a later date, to be announced.

5. Coming Up: NUS to appear before Select Committee

NUS President will appear before the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee on Wednesday 9 July as part of its inquiry ‘After Leitch’.

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee has also announced that it is to hold an evidence session with Peter Williams, chief executive of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), on issues relating to the QAA's recent reports on standards in universities. The chairman of the IUSS Committee, Phil Willis said: 'Allegations that universities are "marking softly" and awarding higher grades because of pressures such as league table competition and budgets have been brought to the attention of the Committee. The Committee has therefore decided to hold an evidence session with the Quality Assurance Agency as soon as possible. This will look at issues relating to the QAA's recent reports on standards in universities which we hope will shed more light on the situation.'