You can’t say I didn’t try…
Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the Government’s proposals for tuition fees.
I considered all the arguments very carefully before last night’s vote. I have had my own concerns about the policy. Over the past few weeks I have had personal meetings with both Charles Clarke and Tony Blair and pressed for some of the important changes that have now been made. I am writing to let you know that I supported the Government’s final proposals and would like to explain why.
There are two parts to the policy: the introduction of higher fees, and the introduction of variable fees. The arguments about each element are rather different.
Universities have been badly under funded for years. Under the previous Conservative Government funding was actually cut. It has risen faster than inflation under Labour but there is still a need for additional resources. I believe that it is reasonable to raise some of those extra resources from those who will benefit directly from higher education. In an ideal world we would not need to do this, but there are not only limits on how much can be raised by taxation, there are also other priorities. Within education alone, better under fives provision would probably have a far bigger impact on educational performance than investment in HE.
Obviously there are concerns about the impact of higher fees. However, the Government’s scheme now has very significant safeguards. Firstly, upfront fees will be abolished. (At present students or their families have to find over £3000 to go on a university course before they graduate and before they have any chance to earn.) In future, no repayments will be made until after graduation. The threshold for repayment (the income you need before you start repaying) will be raised by 50%, and no debts will last longer than 25 years which will help those who go long term into lower paid jobs or decide to take time out to have a family. Secondly, the position for low income students is significantly better than today. Not only will they not have upfront fees, but they will be able to draw up to £3000 a year to support themselves whilst they are at universities. Of course they will have to repay their fees after graduation like everyone else, but they will avoid the worst of the financial pressures that put many off going to university or to leave their courses early.
These are real improvements, not just on the Government top-up fees
proposals but on the current position for poorer students.Variable fees present different problems. Some have been concerned about unfair funding of the newer universities. I have been most concerned that high fees (the £10,000 per year that some universities want) would leave the elite universities as socially unrepresentative and divisive as they are today. Variable fees still form part of the Bill. However, their scope has now been severely limited for years to come. The maximum fee will £3000 in real terms until the end of the decade at least. The Government cannot simply change this policy; they would need support from both Houses of Parliament. In the meantime, only limited variation will be possible which I don’t find entirely unacceptable and could bring some benefits to some universities, some courses and some students.
The changes and safeguards made the Bill one that I could support. Last night’s vote was not simply about the Government’s Bill. The alternative was the Conservative policy which will deny hundreds of thousands of students the chance to go to University. This is not just bad for those students; it is disastrous for the country.
John Denham MP (Southampton Itchen)
I think the key point is that is that he believes variables fees “could bring some benefits to some universities, some courses and some students” (emphasis mine). Hmm, not exactly cast-iron, is it…