§ 19. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans that the cap on variable fees will stay at £3,000 until 2014. [147884]
§ Alan JohnsonI have already given my assurance that the fee cap will stay at £3,000 in real terms for the life of the next Parliament and I confirm that once more. Beyond that, any increase which is above the rate of inflation will, under the terms of the legislation, need to be approved by affirmative resolution which would require the consent of both Houses. I recognise that there are none the less concerns about the impact of variable fees on the university system: the Government will therefore establish an independent review, working with the Office for Fair Access, to report to the House, based on the first three years of their operation.