Williams asks Council to reject fees
February 10, 2004 12:00 AM
Stephen Williams will today make a statement to Bristol City Council on university top-up fees. The meeting will be considering a motion from a Conservative councillor asking MPs to oppose top-up tuition fees through the remaining stages of the parliamentary process. But just like the Conservatives nationally, their local councillors offer no alternative to the government plans.
Stephen Williams was a member of the council for six years and was Leader of the Liberal Democrat group before he left the council in 1999 to concentrate on winning the Bristol West parliamentary seat.
The full text of the statement is given below :
"As a Bristol University graduate I support its case for extra resources to maintain its pre-eminent position in Britain and Europe. I'm also pleased to support the university in its endeavour to widen access to its courses to applicants from disadvantaged families and schools that are currently under represented in its intake.
The question for politicians of all parties is how to find the extra resources without undermining the ambition of opening up higher education to all who have the ability to benefit from it.
Therein lies the flaw with the Labour government's plans for top-up fees. Higher tuition fees, supported in principle by all four of Bristol's Labour MPs, will do little to bridge the funding gap that has arisen under both Labour and Conservative governments. Higher fees also run the risk of deterring applications from students from poor backgrounds.
The net gain for higher education from increased fees is estimated to be under £1 billion. The cost of the cumbersome assessment and collection system and the fact that universities will be expected to pay bursaries to poor students from their fee income mean that the gain for some universities will be negligible. The implication is that the government plans further fee increases. We know that its election promises on this issue are totally worthless.
Students will soon graduate from Bristol's universities with over £20,000 in debts from fees and maintenance loans. Bristol is already perceived as an expensive city in which to study, such a level of debt can't possibly help to widen access.
What are the alternatives?
The Liberal Democrats believe that it would be fairer to provide extra resources for higher education from increased taxation. This need not come from general taxpayers, who already provide the lion's share of university funding. Tax should be targeted on those with incomes of over £100,000 pa who are able to afford an extra contribution.
By coincidence, research shows that over 80% of the people with high incomes are graduates. Unlike the social worker or the classroom teacher it appears that these people really have attained the salary premium that the government ludicrously claims all graduates enjoy.
A tax of 50% on incomes in excess of £100,000 would raise approximately £4.5 billion. If just half of this were allocated to higher education it would dwarf the resources raised by higher fees. Unlike fees the money could be available in the next tax year. Unlike fees the additional assessment costs will be negligible. Unlike fees the tax is pitched at a level where it should provide no barrier to for those contemplating going to university. And unlike fees the extra tax will be collected from all past graduates with high incomes, rather than future graduates whatever their income.
This motion is from a Conservative councillor. The Conservatives have opposed fees but have come up with no viable alternative. The free-market and right-wing press have all condemned their stance as opportunist and shameful. Michael Howard has admitted that the Conservatives currently have no proposals for extra funds for universities. Their only coherent suggestion has been to reduce the number of student places, thus denying life changing chances to thousands of people.
I came to Bristol from a low income family and a poor comprehensive school. Coming to Bristol changed my life for the better. If I were an 18 year old now I don't know whether I would still choose Bristol or whether I would change my choice of subject. Labour councillors know in their hearts that their government's plans will inevitably force many young people to alter their choices. In a market, which is what fees will eventually create, the rich will always have an advantage and the poor, those who could see their lives changed by access to education, will lose out.
Please reject the motion as it is currently worded and support the amendment from Cllr Dennis Brown."
Related Links
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats