All 1 Debates between Gareth Thomas and Luciana Berger

Higher Education

Debate between Gareth Thomas and Luciana Berger
Wednesday 3rd November 2010

(14 years, 1 month ago)

Westminster Hall
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Luciana Berger Portrait Luciana Berger
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My hon. Friend has made exactly the point I wanted to make, so I thank him.

Many of my constituents talk to me now about the challenges they face because of their current debts, when fees are only a third of those proposed by the new Government. Access to higher education should be about students’ ability, not the ability to pay or willingness to shoulder thousands of pounds of debt. That is my greatest concern.

Gareth Thomas Portrait Mr Thomas
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Will my hon. Friend join me in asking for more clarity from the Minister about what will happen to the widening participation grant that is currently in his Department’s budget? We have had no information about whether it will be increased or decreased, or stay the same. I am sure that universities and students will be attending to this debate, and will want that information too.

Luciana Berger Portrait Luciana Berger
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I thank my hon. Friend for asking that relevant question. Given the fraction of money that will go from Aimhigher to the national scholarship fund, and the scarcity of detail in the statement about how widening will be funded, I too would be grateful to know what grant there will be.