Increase in university admissions is not a green light to increase fees says Stephen Williams MP
February 16, 2007 1:52 PM
Commenting on UCAS figures showing the number of people applying to university, Liberal Democrat Higher Education Spokesperson, Stephen Williams MP said: "The fact that more people are going to university is really good news, but the Government must be careful not to take false comfort in these early figures.
"Ministers must not assume this gives them the green light to increase fees yet further. We need a closer understanding of the demographic make up of these applicants before we can conclude that top up fees aren't deterring young people from poorer backgrounds.
"We are yet to see a cohort of students graduate under the new fee regime, with the unprecedented levels of debt it will bring.
"Serious questions remain about how increasing costs are changing students' subject choices. It would be tragic if subjects valued for centuries, like archaeology and astronomy, fall by the wayside because they are not deemed economically attractive now that huge fees are required.
"There are serious concerns about whether the budgetary constraints are forcing more poorer students to study close to home."
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