HC Deb 05 March 2003 vol 400 cc1133-4W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on collusion between higher education institutions in the setting of tuition fees; and what mechanism he uses to prevent collusion. [100304]

Margaret Hodge

Under current arrangements, the level of tuition fees for full-time undergraduate courses in England is fixed and the question of collusion does not arise.

Our future plans for higher education make clear each university will need to have in place an Access Agreement with the independent Access Regulator before they are allowed to increase tuition fees above the current fee. Each university will be treated independently.