§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps the Government are planning to take to encourage higher education institutions to set up their own bursary funds to assist home students to pay any envisaged additional fees which may be charged to students;
(2) if there are plans to set aside funds from the UFC/PCFC allocations to provide a contribution to bursary funds which may be set up by higher education institutions to assist students to pay any envisaged additional fees which may be charged to those students;
(3) what regulatory obstacles exist to prevent higher education institutions from charging private fees to existing home students in addition to current, publicly funded, fees;
(4) what regulatory obstacles exist to prevent higher education institutions from charging fees to new homes students.
Mr. JacksonWhile higher education institutions have long been able to charge holders of mandatory awards tuition fees higher than those met under the awards arrangements, it is not the practice to do so and the Government have no plans to require this. The question of bursary funds does not therefore arise.