§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to make students responsible for meeting any or all of the costs of tuition fees; what is the time scale for these plans; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what estimates his Department has made of the debt students are likely to incur during each year of their academic studies if they are required to take out additional loans to pay tuition fees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoswellThe Government's plans for higher education were set out in the Budget. Public funding will be over £4.6 billion next year. The costs of higher education will in future be shared more fairly between graduates and the taxpayer by accelerating the shift in the balance of student maintenance support from grant to loan. The Government will continue to reimburse tuition fees through the mandatory awards system up to specified maximum levels. We have no plans to make students contribute to tuition fees.