Tuition Fees Q and A Top Up Fees Written by Austin Mitchell    23 January 2004 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.” Read more...   Letter to Alan Johnson 2 Top Up Fees Written by Austin Mitchell    06 January 2004 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. Read more...   Letter to Alan Johnson Top Up Fees Written by Austin Mitchell    06 January 2004 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. Read more...