NEW STUDENT FEES BILL MUST BE STOPPED, SAYS GUILDFORD MP

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Jan 2004

Commenting on yesterday's publication of the Government's Bill to introduce top-up fees for students, Guildford MP, Sue Doughty, said:

"This Bill must be defeated. The Government are trying to make access to higher education dependent on the ability to pay, when it should be on the ability to learn.

"These plans are likely to mean that many of our brightest local students would no longer be able to afford a university education. It makes a mockery of the Government's claim to be widening opportunities."

"We should not be placing the burden on students starting out in life, many of whom will be taking up socially valuable but relatively low paid jobs, such as teachers and junior NHS staff. We should ask those earning super salaries to pay a little more through a 50p tax rate on their earnings over £100,000 each year. This would raise enough to scrap all tuition fees and reintroduce grants of up to £2000 for students from low income backgrounds. It would also provide enough revenue to scrap charges for long-term care for the elderly and cut council tax. Surely this would be a fairer way forward?"

Sue Doughty warned that the Conservatives have no coherent plans to fund higher education:

"The Tories seem to be split on this issue and some may vote with the Government. They do not appear to oppose top-up fees in principle, but are opposing the Government's Bill out of opportunism. The only alternative they have so far proposed is to cut higher education places. This would mean telling thousands of young people each year that they cannot go on to university, even if they have achieved the necessary exam results."