Government excluding majority from further education

Local MP slams Government over latest figures

24.3.05

Following the Office for Fair Access's (OFFA) announcement of approved levels of fees and bursaries in higher education next year, Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton has condemned the Government for their politics of exclusion in colleges and universities.

Commenting, Edward Davey MP said,

'According to this report, nine out of ten institutions will be charging the full amount of £3,000 a year in top-up fees. This is going to clobber students and universities alike.

'The majority of institutions are having to set aside 20-30% of their additional fee income for bursaries and for financial support for students. This is obviously an erosion of the money available to invest in teaching and infrastructure.

'For example, if top-up fees are expected to generate £1 billion for universities, as little as £700 million will be left for investment, much less than the sector needs.

'The only way out of this is to scrap tuition fees altogether and to stop penalising those who want to learn.'

Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Phil Willis MP said:

'The decision to go to university should be based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay. Only the Liberal Democrats would abolish all fees and ensure that universities are properly funded.'

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