HC Deb 07 December 1976 vol 922 cc207-9
1. Mr. Bryan Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has reached a decision on the level of tuition fees for advanced courses for the next academic year.

6. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will announce the level of higher education tuition fees for 1977–78 and 1978–79.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mr. Gordon Oakes)

My right hon. Friend announced the recommended levels of tuition fees in higher education for 1977–78 on 25th November during the debate on the Address. An announcement for 1978–79 will be made in due course.

Mr. Davies

Is my hon. Friend aware that the substantial increase in fees is a source of great concern to many people, both in its impact on overseas students in the form of discrimination between two groups and in terms of the discretionary grant with regard to 16- to 19-year-olds? Ought not the Government to be seeking to reduce the impact of fees on educational policies rather than perpetuating it?

Mr. Oakes

As my hon. Friend knows, this originated from proposals put to the House as long ago as last July by my right hon. Friend the present Secretary of State for Defence. This is a downward modification of that package for some undergraduates. I agree that in an ideal world it would be desirable to be able to reduce fees or, indeed, to have free educa- tion, but we must bear in mind the present economic situation of the country and ask those who can afford to do so to pay their proportion.

Mr. Beith

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that students, from home and overseas, who are able to embark on courses for 1977–78 need some assurance that there will not be a further massive disproportionate increase in 1978–79? Does he recognise that, improved though these proposals are on his right hon. Friend's original proposals, among their many disadvantages is the fear that many charities, colleges and even industrial organisations will have to reduce the total number of awards that they give because of the high fees element?

Mr. Oakes

On the latter point, I should point out that for home graduates these proposals involve a reduction from £650 to £500 on the original proposed fees. On the first part of the question, it is too early to say what the level of fees will be for the following year, but, on the total that we are asked to save, I should not expect any substantial increase in fees for that year.

Mr. Canavan

Is my hon. Friend aware that many students doing Open University courses will find it difficult, if not impossible, to pay the fees if their local authorities withdraw their discretionary grant? Unless such grants for students of the Open University are made compulsory there is a real risk that students will have to discontinue their studies, and the door of the Open University will be closed in the face of many people who see it as one of the finest achievements of the previous Labour Government.

Mr. Oakes

I agree with my hon. Friend about that achievement, and I assure him that the fees for Open University students are excluded from these provisions.

Dr. Hampson

How does the hon. Gentleman square his statement that there will be no substantial extra amounts for 1978–79 with the commitment by the Government in July to find an extra £14 million at 1975 prices? Does that extra total stand? Clearly, to reach that total individual fees will be affected by the number of students falling off, not coming into courses, as the result of next year's high fees. What estimate does the hon. Gentleman have of the fall-off that will take place?

Mr. Oakes

I cannot give the House any figures at the moment, but the recommended fee levels for 1977–78 are for the academic year. Some of the resulting savings will accrue in the financial year 1978–79, and they will go to meet that £14 million commitment.