The Parliamentary University Group is one of the largest all-party groups in Westminster and represents 90 Universities with 300 parliamentarians as members. The Group's aim is to be one of the main avenues of communication between parliamentarians and Vice Chancellors. The Group is meeting on Wednesday 15 November, with a presentation on Student Accommodation by Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University. Prof Pearce writes, "The rapid growth of participation in Higher Education and in total student numbers, and the high concentration of student residents in some areas, has meant the issue of student accommodation has become a controversial one. The issue has moved beyond education and is now being considered in respect of community cohesion, regeneration and planning law. All the main types of accommodation (University owned/on campus, private housing stock and privately owned purpose built accommodation) raise many questions about affordability (to students and institutions), management, environmental issues and neighbour relationships. This session will explore some of those questions." This is clearly a significant initiative. ACTION: (a) please make sure your local MP is aware of this session, and (b) do exhort them to attend on our behalf.
Meanwhile, just published on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website is Characteristics and functions of the private rented sector. Drawing on the 2001 Census, this study gives a snapshot analysis of the people and households living in private rented accommodation, finding young, mobile people dominating the sector - especially students. Read it at: students in the private rented sector