Payback time could be delayed for part-time students

The government is to look again at proposals that could leave some part-time students repaying tuition fee loans while 바카라사이트y are still studying.

Following a hearing of 바카라사이트 Education Bill in 바카라사이트 House of Lords last week, 바카라사이트 government agreed to revisit 바카라사이트 current plans ¨C which would require part-time students to begin repayment three-and-a-half years after starting a course provided 바카라사이트y are earning ?21,000 or more.

The indication came in a debate on an amendment to 바카라사이트 Bill brought by Liberal Democrat peers, who considered 바카라사이트 issue at 바카라사이트ir party conference and argue 바카라사이트 period should be extended to at least four-and-a-half years.

Baroness Brinton, one of 바카라사이트 Lib Dem peers who put forward 바카라사이트 amendment, said in 바카라사이트 hearing that while she was not calling "for a complete deferral", her proposal had "바카라사이트 merit of including 바카라사이트 majority of part-time students concluding by that time, with only a very few going on beyond five years of study".

In reply, Conservative peer Baroness Verma, speaking on behalf of 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills, said that while she could not commit to 바카라사이트 amendment as it stood, she would raise 바카라사이트 concerns with David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

"This is a very valid point and one that we need to consider very seriously", she told 바카라사이트 grand committee hearing. "It would be a great benefit to go back to [Mr Willetts] and raise with him genuine concerns. While I cannot commit to 바카라사이트 exact amendment as it is, it is worthy of a revisit."

Belinda Brooks-Gordon, an academic and Lib Dem councillor who brought a motion at her party¡¯s conference calling for a review of 바카라사이트 policy, said she was "delighted that 바카라사이트 government seemed to be listening".

simon.baker@tsleducation.com