§ 4. Mr. Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby)How many representations he has received in respect of the introduction of tuition fees for students attending university; and how many have been (a) favourable and (b) unfavourable to the policy. [59105]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. George Mudie)Since the announcement of our initial response to the Dearing report in July 1997, we have received nearly 10,000 letters on the new funding arrangements, in largely three tranches. The correspondence has covered many aspects of the issue, and because of its range has not been classified in the way requested.
§ Mr. WareingDoes my hon. Friend understand that, in future years, when there may be an increase in the number of higher education places available, the sons and daughters of the working class or of middle-class people of moderate means will not be able to avail themselves of them because of tuition fees and the abolition of maintenance grants? Will he carry out an urgent consultation with the university authorities and the National Union of Students with a view to reviewing the entire situation, in the light of Labour's traditional policy of free education for all?
§ Mr. MudieWe introduced fees to increase and widen participation, which my hon. Friend should agree with. We have also spent considerable additional sums. I am sure that my hon. Friend shares our objectives, particularly as we have built in safeguards to ensure that individuals from lower-income families do not have to pay fees. I am sure that when my hon. Friend goes back 1097 to his constituency, he will be at pains to get across to working class families the fact that they will not be paying fees, so that should not be a consideration. We want them to encourage their children to go where they should be—to our universities.
§ Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York)Will the Minister share with the House the reason why the Prime Minister cancelled the meeting that was arranged with students at the university of Strathclyde to discuss tuition fees? And why did the BBC fail, for the first time ever, to carry the story of a demonstration against the Prime Minister on tuition fees?
§ Mr. MudieIf the hon. Lady wants to ask the Prime Minister, Wednesday is the right day, not Thursday. The House will be aware that the Prime Minister has many calls on his time, being the particularly accessible Prime Minister that he is. I am sure that the hon. Lady understands.
§ Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire)How many representations have been submitted by or on behalf of adult students? Many adult students do not enter higher education in order to be able to earn more. They may earn the same amount following such education as they did beforehand, but will have sacrificed three years' earnings. Will not they face particular difficulties due to the fee arrangements?
§ Mr. MudieAs my hon. Friend is aware, repayments relate to income—unlike under the previous scheme. Any loans to be repaid depend on the individual being in work, and start only when the individual begins earning more than £10,000 a year.
§ Mr. Damian Green (Ashford)May I express my regret that the Minister could not find time to join me and many others on the platform at the National Union of Students rally last week, where students of all political persuasions condemned the Government for their multiple attacks on student finances? Will he confirm that, significantly, applications from mature students—who know something about debt—were 10 per cent. down this year? Will he explain, not just to me but to many of his hon. Friends, why he did not follow Lord Dearing's advice to keep the maintenance grant in order to increase access to higher education, rather than damage it, as the Government have done?
§ Mr. MudieI find it humorous, to say the least, to be invited to share with the hon. Gentleman the platform of an organisation which the Conservative party at one stage wanted to abolish. We have taken steps this year on the issue of mature students; additional steps will be taken next year. We are alive to difficulties and opportunities.
§ Mr. Bill Rammell (Harlow)Was not the introduction of tuition fees a necessary step to restore university funding? Does my hon. Friend agree that the supposed decrease in applications, which many who opposed tuition fees predicted, did not materialise? Will he reassure the House that he will not be following the advice of the recent Fabian Society pamphlet, which was to introduce differential top-up fees so that some institutions can 1098 charge higher fees? Is not that the fundamental difference between those of us on the Government Benches and the Conservative party?
§ Mr. MudieI can give my hon. Friend that assurance. It is worth recalling that, when the Conservative party left government, university numbers had risen by 40 per cent., but income per unit had fallen by 25 per cent., leaving the universities in a desperate financial situation.