To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 17 March (HL 7488), in light of the statement that top-up fees are prohibited in nursery education to ensure there are no barriers to accessing the benefits of private and voluntary nursery education, why it is not considered that top-up fees in universities have a similar effect.

There is a loan scheme for higher education fees repaid by graduates: it would not be feasible to provide loans to young children as the direct beneficiaries of early-years provision and expect them to repay on similar terms.