§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of higher education tuition fees on student enrolments, broken down by(a) socio-economic class, (b) duration of course and (c) area of study. [99936]
§ Mr. WicksThe Government believe the new arrangements for paying higher education tuition fees, in which students from lower income groups pay no fees, are fair and just. Students from the lower socio-economic groups have not been deterred from applying to enter higher education. Nor is there evidence that student choice, in terms of subject of study and length of course, has been affected.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the statutory restrictions on charging full-time students for the setting of fees for modules of instruction in higher education institutions. [99937]
§ Mr. WicksAllowing higher education institutions to charge top-up fees would restrict access to students from126W less well-off backgrounds and limit student choice. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that any institution which charges, or announces its intention to charge, top-up fees could incur financial penalties. He is not aware of any evidence that this has had a detrimental effect on the ability of higher education institutions to run the courses they wish to provide.