Higher Education Bill

EDM number 136 in 2003-04, proposed by Charles Kennedy on 26/11/2003.

That this House agrees with the Government that universities have been seriously underfunded for the last two decades; notes that the percentage of GDP spent on higher education has decreased since 1997; further notes Government research which indicates that debt and the fear of debt are significant barriers to higher education, particularly for under-represented groups, and that students from poorer backgrounds accumulate the largest burden of debt; believes that all those with a relevant qualification should have the opportunity to enter higher education and therefore regrets the inclusion in the Queen's Speech of the Higher Education Bill, which ignores these considerations; believes that the new proposals, whilst not providing sufficient resources to sustain a world class higher education system, will create a two-tier university system, with access based more on the ability to pay than on merit; and further believes that top-up fees should not be introduced, that tuition fees should be abolished and that maintenance grants of up to ú2,000 should be introduced to be paid for out of progressive taxation, not a student poll tax.

This motion has been signed by a total of 49 MPs.