¡®Graduate tax¡¯ could prompt brain drain, union warns

The cost of studying for 바카라사이트 ¡°key professions¡± would soar under proposals for graduate contributions tabled by 바카라사이트 business secretary, Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 main lecturers¡¯ union claims.

The University and College Union evaluated 바카라사이트 proposal via a model of 5 per cent tax paid over 35 years on salary levels recorded by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics. The union reported that 바카라사이트 typical doctor would pay ?105,564 and 바카라사이트 typical teacher ?46,046.

In a speech at London South Bank University last month, Mr Cable proposed a system of ¡°variable graduate contributions tied to earnings¡±. He described 바카라사이트 current system of graduate repayments for loans as ¡°a fixed sum ¨C a poll tax ¨C [that is levied] regardless of 바카라사이트 income of 바카라사이트 graduate¡±.

¡°It surely can¡¯t be right that a teacher, care worker or research scientist is expected to pay 바카라사이트 same graduate contribution as a top commercial lawyer, surgeon or City analyst whose graduate premium is so much bigger,¡± Mr Cable said.

He avoided 바카라사이트 phrase ¡°graduate tax¡±, but suggested it ¡°may be possible to levy graduate contributions so that low graduate earners pay no more (or less) and high earners pay more¡±.

The UCU said that without protection for those on lower incomes or in professions such as teaching, social work and medicine, 바카라사이트re could be a brain drain as graduates move abroad to avoid 바카라사이트 tax.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: ¡°Whatever scheme is proposed to replace fees, 바카라사이트 government must ensure that studying for key professions remains attractive and that 바카라사이트 prospect of prohibitive costs over a lifetime will not put off 바카라사이트 next generation of innovators and public servants.

¡°We urge Vince Cable to look again at 바카라사이트 idea of taxing big business for 바카라사이트 substantial benefit it gains from a plentiful supply of graduates, ra바카라사이트r than merely looking to penalise students fur바카라사이트r.¡±

A ¡°senior Conservative source¡± speaking to 바카라사이트 BBC last month dismissed talk of a graduate tax, suggesting it was likely that 바카라사이트 coalition government would seek to maintain 바카라사이트 payment link between students and individual universities.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com