Evidence mounts against tuition fees - Teather

1.55.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Apr 2006

Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP

Commenting on the UK Graduate Careers Survey which shows that 38% (41% amongst former state school students) of this year's graduating class would not have come to university if they'd had to pay the £3,000 annual tuition fees, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said "Ministers can't ignore the evidence that top-up fees are going to have a significant impact on students.

"Spiralling graduate debt not only deters young people from entering university but it effects the life choices of graduates years after they leave. If young adults are weighed down with debt it will be harder to get on the property ladder and the expense of starting a family will seem more daunting.

"To make educational opportunities available to all access to a university education must be based on students ability to learn, not their ability to manage debt."