Student Finance — Opposition Day Debate — 4 Nov 1997

The majority of MPs voted against continuing expansion of higher education funded in part by students and against the view that means-tested maintenance grants make an important contribution to improving access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds.

The text of the rejected motion, which had been put forward by the Conservative opposition, stated:

That this House

• welcomes the expansion of higher education which has taken place in recent years;
• shares the view of the Dearing Committee that a further period of expansion is desirable;
• believes that part of the cost of this expansion should be met by students themselves, but agrees with the Dearing Committee that means-tested maintenance grants make an important contribution to improving access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds and deeply regrets the Government's hurried decision to reject this advice; and
• finds incomprehensible the Government's proposal that students from other EU countries should be able to attend four-year courses at Scottish universities on terms more favourable than those available to home students living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

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