Friday, 23 January 2004 13:06
Questions by Austin Mitchell regarding the Higher Education Bill
Answers by Minister of State for Education Charles Clarke
(1) Does the HE Bill break a manifesto commitment? What is the urgency?
A: Ref. David Blunkett who states (Sunday Times, 4th Jan) “we are legislating now, but the changes as a whole will be placed before the country at a general election before they come into effect in 2006.”
Concern: Blunkett begins this article by stating: “In 2001 Labour’s General Election Manifesto promised “We will not introduce top-up fees and have legislated to prevent them.”
Tuesday, 06 January 2004 16:43
Dear Alan
TUITION FEES
Thank you for the information on tuition fees. I hope you`ll be sending more in answer to the series of questions I put to you in my own letters which crossed with yours. However, perhaps I could add a few points which arise from this.
Tuesday, 06 January 2004 16:40
Dear Alan
Like much of the Party I`m worried about top-up fees, or whatever name we`re now giving to the post paid fees for university education which were trailed in the Queen`s Speech. So I`d very much appreciate a briefing on the issue. In particular I`d like the answers to some specific questions which arise. I hope these could be answered before the briefing so that they can be further discussed at it.