DEBT DRIVES DOWN UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 20th Sep 2006

Chairing yesterday's National Union of Students fringe debate on funding the higher education system at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, Paul Holmes, MP for Chesterfield and Member of the House of Commons Education Select Committee said:

"Top-up fees are preventing young people from going to university. This year's university admissions have fallen as potential students cannot face the level of debt that they would have to deal with after university.

"It's unacceptable that there are highly capable young people out there who achieved good A-Levels but won't be applying to university because of the cost. University education must not become exclusive to students from wealthy backgrounds.

"Students should decide what to do after school based on their ability and future career plans, not whether they are able to pay.

"Students now face higher levels of debt than ever, which will prevent them from buying homes, saving for old age or having children after university.

"The Government must realise the impact of their tuition fees policy on the life-defining decisions young people have to take. This Government's education policy has resulted in social mobility decreasing and this generation of students facing greatly increasing restrictions on their life choices."