Oral Answers to Questions

Kerry McCarthy Excerpts

Thursday 20th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We have already heard from the hon. Gentleman in substantive questions and it is not long before we will have the delight—I hope—of hearing from him again in topical questions. Members cannot, I am afraid, have two goes at substantives. One can almost have too much of a good thing.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

16. What recent assessment he has made of his changes to higher education and to the level of student tuition fees; and if he will make a statement.

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts)]

The proportion of English school leavers accepted by universities for 2012-13 was the second highest on record. Final data show that acceptance rates from disadvantaged areas increased. More students are getting into their first choice universities.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

But UCAS data show that there was an overall 11% fall in applications for higher education in 2012-13, and early indications are that the number of applicants for 2013-14 will fall further. Is the Minister worried by that emerging trend, and if so, what will he do about it?

[Mr Willetts]

Of course, entry to British universities is competitive, and we have many more applicants than places, but we will continue to get across the message that no student has to pay up front to go to university, and that students start paying for university only if they are earning more than £21,000. That is a very fair way of financing our universities.