Tuition Fees Cause 9 Fold Increase In Student Bankruptcies

3.1.04

"Fees will equal debt for local students."

New Liberal Democrat figures just out show that since tuition fees were introduced in 1998, the number of students declaring themselves bankrupt has increased by over 900%.

Edward Davey local Liberal Democrat MP has expressed his concern at these new figures, particularly in light of the recent vote to introduce Top Up Fees which will serve to increase student debt. The legislation is likely to have a huge impact on local students in Kingston and Surbiton as there is a large number of local students from middle income families who will not benefit from measures to be implemented for students from lower income families.

Kingston and Surbiton's MP Edward Davey who voted against the controversial proposals in the Commons last week, has received a large amount of correspondence from local students protesting against the Government proposals. Many are forced to work long hours in addition to studying in term time as well as vacations. Top up fees pose a serious risk to the completion of their courses, and will lend to a higher drop out rate.

Edward Davey MP Commented:

"Fees equal debt. As fees increase, so will the number of students being forced to take desperate measures to pay off their debt."

"This legislation will have an enormous impact locally since we have a high participation rate in higher education. The vast majority of local students come from middle income families who will not benefit from the special help for working class students nor are they rich enough to be able to disregard the costs."

"The Government believe that bankruptcy has become an 'easy route' for students and that the answer is to change the law. If all the Government is concerned about is getting its money back, then they have missed the point about student debt."

"The only way to help students out of their debt misery is to abolish fees once and for all."