Gordon Marsden Portrait Gordon Marsden
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I remind the Whip that, constitutionally, the point of an Opposition is to hold the Government to account for their legislation, not simply to engage in a running commentary. Government Members have been pricked by our pointing out that the Minister is trying to introduce these measures without proper discussion.

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Lord Johnson of Marylebone Portrait Joseph Johnson
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The hon. Gentleman seems to have forgotten that he was once fully committed to the principle of funding on the basis of quality. May I remind him of what he said in 2001, when he was younger and wiser?

David Evennett Portrait David Evennett
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Not as long ago as 1918!

Lord Johnson of Marylebone Portrait Joseph Johnson
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The hon. Gentleman said very clearly:

“We must reassess the balance between teaching and research…The HEFC should seriously consider incorporating a teaching quality assessment exercise in the RAE”.—[Official Report, 8 November 2001; Vol. 374, c. 170WH.]

That implies we fund teaching on the basis of quality just as we fund research on the basis of quality, which is precisely what we are doing.