Higher Education Reform

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The Shadow Secretary of State criticises the sudden rise in tuition fees for students, highlighting inconsistencies with previous government promises. She queries how much of the increased cost will be offset by a national insurance increase and whether this is the only fee hike expected or if annual increases are planned. Laura Trott also questions the Office for Budget Responsibility's involvement in consultations regarding these changes and their impact on public finances.

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Critiqued the announcement as a betrayal of students, pointing out contradictions in previous statements made by Labour regarding tuition fees. Asked about how much of the increase will be absorbed by national insurance increases for university employees and if it is intended to be a one-off change.

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Asked about steps being taken to ensure the announcement does not deter young people from low and middle-income backgrounds from applying to university.

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Questioned the fairness of increasing fees without substantial reforms. Inquired about restoring maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, raising repayment thresholds, recognising benefits of international students, and examining efficient use of £10,000 per student funding.

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Asked about including the cost of housing as part of reforms.

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Asked about pausing commencement of provisions in the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and its future.

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I would not be standing here today were it not for the incredible opportunities of a university education. I was the first in my family to attend and I spent the next 20 years as a higher education lecturer, watching culture wars break out and the financial system become increasingly broken. Does the Secretary of State agree that we now have an opportunity to restore universities as machines of opportunity and economic growth?

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Does the Secretary of State accept that it might have been better to hold a wider review of the whole system instead of jumping immediately to putting up tuition fees? She says that we all respect and want to protect our world-beating universities, but how does she square that with her Government removing the funding for the exascale computer at Edinburgh University?

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I commend my right hon. Friend for making such a bold and difficult decision here when so many of her predecessors shied away from it. Putting the sector on a sound financial footing is crucial, but I also welcome the move on maintenance support. Can she assure me that, when she talks about increasing efficiency in the sector, she is talking not about vice-chancellors balancing staff and workload, but about addressing the overspend in some capital projects?

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Ten million pensioners, almost 30 million workers who the Institute for Fiscal Studies says will now see lower wages because of national insurance rises, tens of thousands of farmers, hundreds of thousands of small businesses seeing business rates rising, and today millions of students. Is there anyone that this Government told before the general election ‘Don’t worry!’ who they have not since shafted?

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Two things are clear: the Conservative party left the sector in utterly dire straits, and today’s measures are absolutely necessary for our universities to avoid bankruptcy. What steps is the Secretary of State taking with universities, students and campus unions to develop a new financial model—one that delivers excellence and value for students, and stability and security for university staff?

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I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement on increased maintenance loans and what that will do for equality of opportunity. I agree with her that the last Government did not properly value the contribution of international students. For more than 15 years, the much higher fees charged to international students have cross-subsidised British students, so should the Government remove international students from net migration figures?

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Keele University and the University of Staffordshire have been warning for a long time of their dire financial circumstances. I welcome the announcement of this financial support to protect jobs in those institutions that currently face a desperate budget round. What is her Department doing to ensure funding is in place so that more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can access higher education?

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I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement that universities must be home to robust discussion and rigorous challenge. Many students are put off going to university by already very high fees; there were no proposals in her statement to reform university finance, only a proposal to charge students more. Will this drive people away from university education?

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I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. I fully understand that something needs to be done, but we know university applications have been slowly declining. Has she any plans to review her actions if the equality impact assessment shows issues for disadvantaged students?

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Universities work in collaboration with FE sector institutions such as Petroc college in my constituency. Government funding for the FE sector has fallen significantly in real terms over the past decade, leading to falling teacher pay. What are the plans to fund the FE sector so that it can remain a viable and accessible option, particularly in rural areas such as mine, for people to access university courses?

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We have thousands of international students at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield—they are most welcome and they make a great contribution. However, when the Conservative party was in power, the independent Office for Students concluded that the entire higher education model was reliant on international fee income. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that was a completely unsustainable model—another example of the Conservative party ignoring a problem and leaving it to us to rescue and reform our higher education sector?

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I put on record that I am the parent of three students—two undergrads and one postgrad—who are all paying their fees. Does the Secretary of State agree that courses offering just eight hours a week of contact time do not represent good value for money? Will she ensure that element is fully evaluated in the reforms?

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Universities are critical for students, of course, but also for economic growth, town and city regeneration, and much more. Reform and accountability are also important. Will the Secretary of State outline in a bit more detail the accountability to which she will hold these university vice-chancellors on teaching contact time, helping vulnerable students and ensuring that universities play a huge part in the wider communities?

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The reintroduction of maintenance grants will mean that living costs are not barriers to university for those disadvantaged students. Will the Secretary of State confirm the reintroduction of maintenance grants, so that no young people are put off university for fear of the costs?

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The previous Government’s approach to regulation put ideology over evidence, and one example of that is in the role of the designated quality body. It was there to check on quality and standards in higher education, but it had to give up that role because the regulatory climate was non-compliant with international standards. Can the Secretary of State assure the House that the regulatory approach will be different from that of the previous Government?

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With fees to increase, how can we expect students to stay and work within the UK when it is much cheaper to live elsewhere? May I make a plea about the retention of student and junior doctors? Will she consider bursaries or forgiveness of debt against a job commitment?

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In Scotland, while undergraduate education is free, universities are grossly underfunded to deliver it. The announcement will only widen the gap between Scotland and England in that regard. Will the Secretary of State engage with the sector to ensure we have the right environment to attract the best students and staff?

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Welcomed the Government's plan to reform higher education, noting that Bradford University has a high proportion of students from the city but many fail due to lack of graduate jobs. Invited the Secretary of State to visit and see the university’s civic contribution.

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Agreed that universities should expand access for students from all backgrounds, recognising social mobility opportunities, and asked about support for various degree types.

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Asked if mechanisms are in place to ensure that increased income from fees translates into fewer job losses and helps encourage more students from lower-income backgrounds.

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Asked if arts degrees will be an important part of the economy in future, given Falmouth University's world-leading status.

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Asked about expanding access for working-class students despite fees, based on his experience at the University of Leeds.