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Promised London Met inquiry revealed to be Hefce exercise
22 May 2009
MPs demand apology from Lammy as they learn there will be no new scrutiny of London Met crisis. Melanie Newman reports
The “independent inquiry” announced by David Lammy into the crisis at London Metropolitan University is nothing more than an ongoing exercise commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, it has emerged.
The Higher Education Minister appeared to promise a new inquiry in Parliament earlier this week. However, his department has now said that he was referring to a continuing investigation by Hefce into the “lessons to be learnt” from the debacle.
More than 500 jobs are set to go at London Met after Hefce said it may claw back £31.5 million that it had overpaid because of inaccurate data submitted by the university on its student completion rates.
After a debate in the House of Commons on 20 May, in which Hefce was accused by MPs of “colluding” with the university over the inaccurate data, Mr Lammy said: “There will, of course, be an independent inquiry, and an inquiry by the National Audit Office into the financial arrangements for universities, which will have particular regard to the London Met situation.”
However, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has now said that there will be no new independent inquiry.
Hefce revealed in May, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, that it had commissioned an “independent lessons-learnt exercise into our role” in the crisis.
DIUS said that Mr Lammy was referring to this inquiry, which is due to report to Hefce’s board in July.
The NAO study cited by the minister is looking at the financial health of the higher education sector in general – as part of this, it will “consider the position at London Met”.
The confusion has prompted MPs to demand an apology from the Higher Education Minister.
Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, was one of those to suggest that there may have been a degree of collusion between Hefce and London Met.
She said: “I’m very disappointed that David Lammy misled the House, and I will be joining colleagues like Jeremy Corbyn [Labour MP for Islington North] in pressing for an apology.”
The University and College Union also accused the Government of misleading the public and shirking its responsibility over its refusal to conduct a fully independent inquiry.
Sally Hunt, the UCU general secretary, said: “We are quite astounded by the Government’s U-turn.
“On Wednesday, the minister said there will be an inquiry, not that there was one currently under way behind closed doors. He has either misled Parliament or performed an incredible about-turn; neither action is acceptable.”
melanie.newman@tsleducation.com
Readers' comments
...Diane Abbott got a little too close to the truth for comfort?
"She said: “I’m very disappointed that David Lammy misled the House, and I will be joining colleagues like Jeremy Corbyn [Labour MP for Islington North] in pressing for an apology.” It is a bit rich for Abbott to accuse Lammy, when all the time she was pontificating comprehensive secondary education, she was sending her son to fee-paying independent school. who would be heading towards Oxbridge. Same case with Corbyn. I don't trust them at all.
I've seen little evidence Lammy can be held responisble for anything he says. He isn't bright enough to to be responsible for anything. I also note, having watched the private member's debate with all three, nonme of them addressed the ral issue. They, and the MP from the LMU city campus area, all seemed to praise LMU for its high standards and valuable contributions to society. That is grossly inaccurate. It has been academically corrupt (VERY SERIOUSLY CORRUPT) for many years (from the UNL days). Of course, not all of LMU's staff are corrupt. Most are not. But there have been too many who are. They have had a siginificant influence on a large area of LMU teaching. The LMU affair is an opportunity to open up discussions on HE in the UK...LMU may not be the only institution with problems. Lammy seems to be sLammying the door. Would you expect anything other? Rob Slack (Ex UNL)
Lammy is a junior minister and it requires much more senior one with a cabinet rank like Denham to order an independent enquiry. All such enquiries cost as they have to be headed by an independent expert who with his/team and needs to take submissions from all parties which means costing at least a million ot two which this govt wouldn't spend as it has no money. Analogies of banks will not work and the govt can live with an university like this going bust/sinkin with problems. Audit Office examine books and comment like they usually do for NHS. With a general election looming in months, the Brown govt has higher priorities, and it looks like It.
Does Abbott have any evidence of collusion, or that HEFCE's remit includes auditing of the data that institutions return? I suspect not. I don't know why London Met's local MPs seem so keen to defend this lamentably bad institution.
This is turning into a farce. It would be funny if there wasn't such a nasty stench of corruption & incompetence, surrounding this failing institution. Did anyone watch Jeremy Corbyn praising London Met for being such a vital part of the community & a beacong of Higher Education for the nation's capital? What planet is he on???? London Met is a 4th-rate bottom-feeding sewer, and every school & college in Islington uses it as the bogey-man to threaten their kids with the prospect of ending up if they don't work hard. Let London Met close. The stench of decay will haunt it for years & make any proposed rescue plan unviable.
Such a sudden U-turn certainly raises a lot more suspicions & questions. Do HEFCE suddenly realise that they are not going to emerge from any inquiry without looking inept & best - incompetent at worst. Is anyone suggesting brown-envelopes stuffed with £50 notes have been passed between individuals at HEFCE & Londonmet?
The best solution for London Met problems is to close this institution. Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott do not send their sons to London Met,preferring to Oxbridge, and their praise sounds so hollow.
Any more proof needed that they all urinate in the same vessel? The whole educational establishment is rotten to the core, which is why it is currently in terminal decline.
Well who knows what goes on at the Reform Club. Some people mentioned above do, but they aren't telling!
I demand Lammy's resignation and Denham's as well. This affair stinks to high heaven. HEFCE is not fit for purpose. But of course, the same lame excuse will be offered --"Universities and colleges of higher education are independent, autonomous bodies, responsible for their own internal affairs. As such, they are outside of direct Government control." Isn't it time that this changes?
Lammy and Denham will go in the next general election. " Current London Met Examiner" is out of order. Give the new Acting VC a chance to clean up the sewer.
Get really real. Could you please have a word with the new acting VC to also clean up the sewer at Liverpool John Moores University. It is a deeper and rotten to the core sewer! Managerial failings at LJMU need to be exposed and thoroughly investigated. The whole system is flawed and requires immediate correction and clean up.
Latest(this exam session) Londomet scam : lie to students, telling them they will be examined on X. Examine them on Y, they fail, we get the exam resit fees... There's a lot going on there that none of you know... The best thing is to stop it from accepting more students and fund it until every last student gets his diploma..
"A current LondonMet examiner", why don't you tell us about the way some of the CityCampus teachers grade coursework? what abbout "JohnWayne"'s infailible system - 95% between 60 and 70??? what about the "Doctor"'s system - 20 seconds(and a drink) on each??? and all the others....
There are no resit exam fees