Friday, May 20, 2005
Top-up fees on the agenda
The Conservative Party's minority debate on tuition fees next Tuesday has caused a storm, coming as it does, two days before the publication of the Rees Commission report on the subject. Professor Rees has allegedly written to AMs to express her dismay and disappointment at the timing of the discussion, stating that it "seems our evidence-based recommendations may not even be deemed worthy of consideration." I have to say that I am still waiting to receive this letter.
I understand her point and at one stage even advised the Conservative Education Spokesperson to choose another topic. I did so on the basis that the Assembly has already taken a position against variable top-up fees and that we should keep our powder dry for the report itself. Nevertheless, it is the right of the Conservatives to bring forward this subject for debate and to take advantage of the new arithmetic in the Assembly to drive home the point of principle.
Obviously, there will be further debates on the Rees Commission report itself and the evidence and the options within it will need to be considered in detail, especially on bursaries and part-timers. But that consideration will need to be tempered by the principle that education is an investment in our future and should be paid for by the state out of public funds. The punitive taxation which variable top-up fees represent will put off talented young people from going into higher education and deprive our Country of much-needed home-grown talent. They must be resisted at every opportunity.
N.B. Much has been made on the media this morning of a Higher Education Wales e-mail that states that there is a £250 million funding gap in Universities between England and Wales. Commentators have taken this figure as the amount which will be raised from top-up fees. That is not the case.
The funding gap that exists now is about £90 million. This comes about from the present Assembly funding HE policy. Higher Education Wales' argument is in fact that if top-up fees are introduced in England but not Wales AND Welsh HEIs are not compensated, then that chasm will grow in size to £250 million.
In fact top-up fees will raise about £40 million in year one, rising to about £160 million in year three. To use them to close the funding gap as well could require a Welsh top-up fee of £5,000. Is that the hidden agenda of Higher Education Institutions in Wales? If so then they will massively increase student debt and drive talented people away from Welsh Universities. There is no better illustration as to why variable top-up fees are wrong.
I understand her point and at one stage even advised the Conservative Education Spokesperson to choose another topic. I did so on the basis that the Assembly has already taken a position against variable top-up fees and that we should keep our powder dry for the report itself. Nevertheless, it is the right of the Conservatives to bring forward this subject for debate and to take advantage of the new arithmetic in the Assembly to drive home the point of principle.
Obviously, there will be further debates on the Rees Commission report itself and the evidence and the options within it will need to be considered in detail, especially on bursaries and part-timers. But that consideration will need to be tempered by the principle that education is an investment in our future and should be paid for by the state out of public funds. The punitive taxation which variable top-up fees represent will put off talented young people from going into higher education and deprive our Country of much-needed home-grown talent. They must be resisted at every opportunity.
N.B. Much has been made on the media this morning of a Higher Education Wales e-mail that states that there is a £250 million funding gap in Universities between England and Wales. Commentators have taken this figure as the amount which will be raised from top-up fees. That is not the case.
The funding gap that exists now is about £90 million. This comes about from the present Assembly funding HE policy. Higher Education Wales' argument is in fact that if top-up fees are introduced in England but not Wales AND Welsh HEIs are not compensated, then that chasm will grow in size to £250 million.
In fact top-up fees will raise about £40 million in year one, rising to about £160 million in year three. To use them to close the funding gap as well could require a Welsh top-up fee of £5,000. Is that the hidden agenda of Higher Education Institutions in Wales? If so then they will massively increase student debt and drive talented people away from Welsh Universities. There is no better illustration as to why variable top-up fees are wrong.
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I thought you did very well to copy all that out from the Labour Party crib sheet Martyn. Loved the use of all the Focus group buzzwords. :-)
I do not think it is right that a graduate should effectively pay a marginal rate of tax of 42% on graduation, which is what Labour's proposals mean.
If Graduates do earn more then they will pay more tax. That is right and proper and that is how the system balances itself out. I do not mind paying more tax to fund higher education because it ultimately will benefit the Country and increase prosperity. This "greater good" has been lost in your answer.
The fact is that talented youngsters are already being put off from going into Higher Education. I am not scaremongering, I am championing their cause. It is ironic that a Cabinet who all benefited from free Higher Education are now penalising those who seek to follow in their footsteps.
I do not think it is right that a graduate should effectively pay a marginal rate of tax of 42% on graduation, which is what Labour's proposals mean.
If Graduates do earn more then they will pay more tax. That is right and proper and that is how the system balances itself out. I do not mind paying more tax to fund higher education because it ultimately will benefit the Country and increase prosperity. This "greater good" has been lost in your answer.
The fact is that talented youngsters are already being put off from going into Higher Education. I am not scaremongering, I am championing their cause. It is ironic that a Cabinet who all benefited from free Higher Education are now penalising those who seek to follow in their footsteps.
These views are very similar to those of David Davies AM/MP. I havent got a clue what letter you are referring to regarding Swansea University. Perhaps you can e-mail to jolt my memory.
As for the reshuffle, what was there to be promoted into? I am already Education Spokesperson and Chair of Education and Lifelong Learning. I have no personal ambitions in the Assembly other than to serve my constituents, my Country and my party. (I am being sincere on that by the way).
As for the reshuffle, what was there to be promoted into? I am already Education Spokesperson and Chair of Education and Lifelong Learning. I have no personal ambitions in the Assembly other than to serve my constituents, my Country and my party. (I am being sincere on that by the way).
I am sorry you were offended, I was just commenting that both you and David Davies have expressed similar views on this subject. I think that by being asked to concentrate on education I am effectively the Welsh Liberal Democrats' students' champion if such a title has any value, which I doubt. There are of course other aspects to Higher Education as well.
I haven't got a clue why we have a Welsh Language champion. Not something I was involved in. As it happens I go to the Mayoral inauguration at Neath Port Talbot most years, certainly when my diary allows. Never see Peter Hain there though and only occasionally Brian Gibbons.
Martyn, I wrote that letter in line with SUSU policy. If you have a problem with it, why not come and see me or any other member of the Sabb team? I'm in monday come and have a chat, I'll explain why I wrote it.
Many Thanks,
Dan Hilton
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Many Thanks,
Dan Hilton
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