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The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) operates a national complaints handling scheme for England and Wales, under provisions in the 2004 Higher Education Act. The OIA can review complaints made by students against Higher Education Institutions if they remain unresolved, once a student has completed the institution's own complaints procedures. This may include, for example, complaints from students about unfair treatment by university staff. The service is free of charge to students.<\/p>
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Separate arrangements are in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.There are, however, some complaints that OIA cannot consider. These relate to concerns about admission to a university and to academic judgement. In the latter case, OIA can look at whether an institution has followed its rules and regulations in making an award to a student.<\/p>
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<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-03T16:28:27.0473898Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Higher Education: Appeals"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a nationwide appeals system for higher education students in the United Kingdom who wish to appeal on the basis of awarded grades or complain about alleged unfair treatment by university staff.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"} ], "uin" : "HL567"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63787", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63787/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
All committees operate according to the guidelines and standards outlined in the <\/em>Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]). Any advisory committee that is classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) is also subject to formal Cabinet Office procedures including a full triennial review. <\/em><\/p> <\/em><\/p> <\/p> CoPSAC is underpinned by The Principles of Scientific Advice to Government', published in 2010 (Annex A to CoPSAC), and the \u2018Nolan' principles for public life (the \u201cSeven Principles of Public Life\u201d (Annex C).<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The principles \u201cprovide a foundation on which independent scientific advisers and government departments should base their operations and interactions\u201d. Members are also expected to abide by the Nolan Principles, which include the principles of objectivity and accountability.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Any \u201cissues of concern over the application of the Principles, or other guidance\u201d should be raised to the Chief Scientific Adviser. \u201cIf the matter of concern cannot be effectively resolved or is especially serious CSAs should approach the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and Ministers should approach the GCSA and the Minister for Science. The matter will be examined against a clear set of criteria, which include a breach of the Principles or CoPSAC.\u201d<\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278498/11-1382-code-of-practice-scientific-advisory-committees.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-08T15:23:07.1810649Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Advisory Bodies"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what quality control and audit procedures are in place to ensure that their advisory committees perform to the highest standards, that they are using up-to-date methodology and science, and that their advice is sound and accepted by the broader scientific community.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1861", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Countess of Mar"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Countess of Mar"}
], "uin" : "HL571"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63788", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63788/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> There is nothing in the Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]) that prevents a committee from commissioning additional advice from experts, and committees are encouraged to \u201cseek a wide range of advice from the best sources, particularly when there is uncertainty\u201d.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> CoPSAC states \u201cWhere a SAC lacks the relevant expertise for a particular project or task (as opposed to the committee's on-going work), the committee can co-opt appropriate experts or establish sub-groups to include such people on an ad hoc, time-limited basis\u201d.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278498/11-1382-code-of-practice-scientific-advisory-committees.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p>