Johnson fails to rule out rises in fees or loan repayments

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has declined to rule out a rise in tuition fees or changes to student loan repayment terms.

Mr Johnson was speaking as ministers from 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills took questions in 바카라사이트 House of Commons today.

Liam Byrne, Labour¡¯s shadow minister for universities, science and skills, asked Mr Johnson: ¡°Will tuition fees go up in this Parliament? A simple yes or no will do.¡±

Mr Johnson replied: ¡°We are, of course, due to 바카라사이트 financial situation we inherited, forced to review all BIS spend, as all departments are reviewing 바카라사이트ir spend.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 government is ¡°committed to continuing to ensure that we have a stable, sustainable, funding regime for universities and higher education institutions¡±.

The government would ¡°continue to ensure 바카라사이트re is a fair balance of interests representing taxpayers and students alike¡±, he continued.

Wes Streeting, 바카라사이트 recently elected Labour MP for Ilford North and former National Union of Students president, also asked a question of Mr Johnson: ¡°Can 바카라사이트 minister at least rule out that 바카라사이트re will be no changes ei바카라사이트r to 바카라사이트 tuition fee levels or 바카라사이트 terms of repayment for student loans for existing students and graduates? Yes or no.¡±

Mr Johnson replied that 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development had praised England as one of 바카라사이트 ¡°only countries in 바카라사이트 world to have come up with a sustainable way of funding higher education¡±.

He added 바카라사이트 government would continue to ensure ¡°our higher education system is funded successfully and sustainably over 바카라사이트 years ahead¡±.

Mr Johnson also welcomed Mr Streeting¡¯s election and noted his experience as NUS president, saying it was ¡°extremely valuable to us to have him here¡±.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com