HL Deb 30 June 1997 vol 581 c10WA
Lord Lucas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are content for some universities to charge top-up fees; and if so, how they propose that poorer children should be enabled to pay such fees.

Baroness Blackstone

It would be premature for any university to introduce top-up fees in advance of the report of the Dearing Inquiry into Higher Education and the follow-up to the report. We shall be considering very carefully the recommendations of the report on the future development and funding of higher education, having regard to our policy to widen opportunities for all individuals to enable them to fulfil their intellectual and personal potential and to engage in learning throughout life.