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| Universities minister doesn’t rule out raising tuition fees | Universities minister doesn’t rule out raising tuition fees |
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| The new science and universities minister, Jo Johnson, has declined to rule out raising tuition fees or changing the terms of existing student loans over the next five years. | The new science and universities minister, Jo Johnson, has declined to rule out raising tuition fees or changing the terms of existing student loans over the next five years. |
| Johnson’s Labour counterpart, Liam Byrne, said in parliament on Tuesday that, after the coalition tripled tuition fees, four out of five students no longer thought that their university courses were value for money. | Johnson’s Labour counterpart, Liam Byrne, said in parliament on Tuesday that, after the coalition tripled tuition fees, four out of five students no longer thought that their university courses were value for money. |
| “The minister’s predecessor said that he saw no case for raising tuition fees in this parliament. What does the minister think?” asked Byrne. “Will tuition fees go up in this parliament? A simple yes or no will do.” | “The minister’s predecessor said that he saw no case for raising tuition fees in this parliament. What does the minister think?” asked Byrne. “Will tuition fees go up in this parliament? A simple yes or no will do.” |
| Johnson, a former head of the No 10 policy unit who was promoted in the government’s post-election reshuffle, said: “Due to the financial situation we inherited, we are of course forced to review all [Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] spend – as all departments are reviewing their spend. | Johnson, a former head of the No 10 policy unit who was promoted in the government’s post-election reshuffle, said: “Due to the financial situation we inherited, we are of course forced to review all [Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] spend – as all departments are reviewing their spend. |
| “As our manifesto made clear, the government are committed to continuing to ensure that we have a stable and sustainable funding regime for our universities and higher education institutions,” said Johnson. “They are secure and financially stable, and we will continue to ensure a fair balance of interests between taxpayers and students.” | “As our manifesto made clear, the government are committed to continuing to ensure that we have a stable and sustainable funding regime for our universities and higher education institutions,” said Johnson. “They are secure and financially stable, and we will continue to ensure a fair balance of interests between taxpayers and students.” |
| Wes Streeting, the new Labour MP for Ilford North and a former president of the National Union of Students, pushed Johnson to rule out any changes to the terms of student loans. | Wes Streeting, the new Labour MP for Ilford North and a former president of the National Union of Students, pushed Johnson to rule out any changes to the terms of student loans. |
| “Having failed to rule out a hike in university tuition fees during this parliament, can the minister rule out at least that there will be no changes either to tuition fee levels or the terms of repayment on student loans for existing students and graduates?” said Streeting. “Yes or no?” | “Having failed to rule out a hike in university tuition fees during this parliament, can the minister rule out at least that there will be no changes either to tuition fee levels or the terms of repayment on student loans for existing students and graduates?” said Streeting. “Yes or no?” |
| Johnson responded by saying that the UK had been praised by the OECD as one of the only countries in the world to have come up with a sustainable way of funding higher education, adding: “This government have every intention of continuing to ensure that our higher education system is funded successfully and sustainably over the years ahead.” | Johnson responded by saying that the UK had been praised by the OECD as one of the only countries in the world to have come up with a sustainable way of funding higher education, adding: “This government have every intention of continuing to ensure that our higher education system is funded successfully and sustainably over the years ahead.” |
| Before May’s general election, the Labour party claimed that a black hole in university finances meant a future coalition government of the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats would increase tuition fees to £11,500 a year. | Before May’s general election, the Labour party claimed that a black hole in university finances meant a future coalition government of the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats would increase tuition fees to £11,500 a year. |
| The then Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show four days before polling day, came under pressure from Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, to rule out an increase in fees, but he pushed the issue aside. | The then Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show four days before polling day, came under pressure from Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, to rule out an increase in fees, but he pushed the issue aside. |
| Conservative William Hague said the government had not ruled out a rise in tuition fees, but added that Labour’s claim was “just designed to scare people ahead of the elections”. | Conservative William Hague said the government had not ruled out a rise in tuition fees, but added that Labour’s claim was “just designed to scare people ahead of the elections”. |
| A spokesperson for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: “The government is committed to ensuring we have a stable and sustainable funding regime for our universities and higher education institutions, with a fair balance of interests representing taxpayers and students alike.” |