HC Deb 08 March 1995 vol 256 cc208-9W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will announce the Government's decision on the proposal to amend the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1994 to allow institutions to charge overseas students on part-time courses higher fees; and further, whether she will publish the responses to the consultation exercise engaged in by her Department.

Mr. Boswell

The Government have carefully considered the responses to the consultation exercise announced last September. In the light of the general support for the proposal shown by the responses to the exercise from institutions, the Government have decided to lay before Parliament an amendment to the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1994 to allow higher and further education institutions to charge all students on part-time courses a higher fee, representing the full cost of their course, where they do not meet the three-year residency requirement and are not excepted.

The amendment will not alter, in any way, institutions' present discretion to set their own fee levels or to waive or reduce fees for asylum seekers if they choose.

In line with the code of practice on access to Government information, a summary of the responses to the consultation exercise will he provided by the Department From today. A copy will be placed in the Library. Copies of individual responses will be made available in the public enquiry room of the Department, unless the respondent has specifically requested confidentiality.