Clause 23 - Condition that may be requried to be imposed by English funding bodies
Higher Education Bill
9:30 am
Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge, Labour)
The purpose of amendment No. 82, and of consequential amendments Nos. 83 to 96, is to remove the variable fee and to replace it with a fixed fee. I have attempted to delete all references to the higher amount, leaving only the basic amount in place. That means that the basic amount will remain the fee that is charged to all eligible students as an entry fee into higher education, and I have left the setting of that fee within the Government's remit. I recognise that universities need better funding and that the basic fee would have to rise beyond its current level of £1,125 a year if universities are to increase the amount of funding that they have for teaching.
It is probably worth pointing out that the amendment would achieve the objective set out in the early-day motion that I tabled on 1 April 2003. It reads:
''That this House welcomes the extra Government money announced in the White Paper 'The Future of Higher Education'; further welcomes the end of up front tuition fees; supports the reintroduction of grants for students from poorer backgrounds; recognises the improvements outlined for the repayment of debt, but believes that differential fees will deter students from low-income backgrounds from applying to the top academic institutions and to certain courses; and, if extra money is required, urges the Government to implement a measured increase in fees across the board, whilst maintaining the full or partial exemption from fees for students from low income backgrounds.''
The early-day motion was signed by 77 hon. Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Aberavon (Dr. Francis), who is sitting next to me. I hope that its aims will be supported by an equally large number when I press the amendment to a vote.