This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11920628

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Tuition fees: Poorest students to get year for free Tuition fees: Poorest students to get year for free
(40 minutes later)
Thousands of university students from poorer backgrounds could have their tuition fees paid for up to two years, ministers have proposed. Thousands of university students from poorer backgrounds could have their tuition fees paid for up to two years under new government proposals.
A government source said any student eligible for free school meals could get their tuition fees paid for a year. Universities minister David Willetts said up to 18,000 students could get support for their fees from a new fund.
And universities which charge more than £6,000 a year could be forced to pay such students' fees for a further year. This and other safeguards should "absolutely" allay student concerns about the fees rise, Mr Willetts said.
Labour described the coalition's plans to raise tuition fees as "cultural vandalism". MPs vote on Thursday. But ahead of Thursday's vote to raise fees to £9,000, student leaders said the plan would have "limited impact".
As MPs prepare for that vote - on whether to back government proposals to increase the cap in fees from £3,375 to £9,000 from 2013 - Lib Dem sources said it was still unclear which way their 57 MPs would go.As MPs prepare for that vote - on whether to back government proposals to increase the cap in fees from £3,375 to £9,000 from 2013 - Lib Dem sources said it was still unclear which way their 57 MPs would go.
The party has come under intense pressure from students after promising to abolish tuition fees in its election manifesto. Leader Nick Clegg and all other Lib Dem MPs signed a pre-election pledge to vote against any rise.The party has come under intense pressure from students after promising to abolish tuition fees in its election manifesto. Leader Nick Clegg and all other Lib Dem MPs signed a pre-election pledge to vote against any rise.
The government believes up to 18,000 students a year could benefit from the new two-year proposals - significantly increasing the numbers of children from poorer families going on to higher education. Mr Clegg's chief political adviser told the BBC that the party would announce its intentions following a meeting early next week.
Cash for the scheme would come from the £150m National Scholarship Programme already announced by Business Secretary Vince Cable. 'Extra assistance'
'Not being straight' Cash for the new fund - set aside for pupils who were eligible for free schools meals - would come from the £150m National Scholarship Programme already announced.
Ministers will meet student representatives next week to consult them on the plans, which have strong backing from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Under the plans, universities which charge more than £6,000 a year could be forced to pay such students' fees for a second year.
He is understood to believe that students who received a year's free tuition are not only more likely to go to university, but are also more likely to aspire to go to Oxford or Cambridge. Ministers believe up to 18,000 students could ultimately benefit, significantly increasing the numbers of children from poorer families going on to higher education.
Free school meals are available to families claiming certain benefits and are given to around 80,000 pupils in each school year.Free school meals are available to families claiming certain benefits and are given to around 80,000 pupils in each school year.
Mr Willetts told BBC One's Politics Show the plan was to allow universities to offer "extra assistance" to pupils from poorer backgrounds by "relieving their fees cost".
Before Thursday's vote, he said the coalition would be emphasising the "very good features" of its student finance package, such as the fact there would be no upfront charges and the salary level at which graduates will have to start repaying will rise from £15,000 to £21,000.
"There is absolutely no reason why students that are worried should have any genuine concerns about the proposals," he added.
Ministers will meet student representatives next week to consult them on the plans, which have strong backing from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
'Huge debt'
But National Union of Students president Aaron Porter said the plans "won't get very far".
"Despite the trebling of tuition fees, what we have seen is no further detail on the requirements from universities to put money into support for students from the poorest backgrounds.
"We suspect this will have a very limited impact at a time when debt will be so huge for those leaving our universities."
Despite efforts to bring them on board, more than 10 Lib Dem MPs have suggested they will vote against the plan while some others are considering abstaining.Despite efforts to bring them on board, more than 10 Lib Dem MPs have suggested they will vote against the plan while some others are considering abstaining.
Amid reports of disagreements between senior Lib Dems over the issue, Mr Clegg told the href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/nick-clegg-no-apologies-no-regrets-no-shame-2151708.html" >Indpendent on Sunday he wanted everyone to vote for the rise "but we are not there yet" in terms of an agreed position. Amid reports of disagreements between senior Lib Dems over the issue, MP Norman Lamb - Nick Clegg's political adviser - acknowledged the issue was "messy" and "difficult" but had to be considered through the party's normal decision-making procedures.
"It's immensely frustrating to me to see a policy which lowers barriers of entry to university being portrayed as putting up barriers," he told the paper. "Nick Clegg is keen to try and get a consensus within the parliamentary party," he told the Politics Show.
'Brave and bold' While it was his "strong preference" to vote for the proposals, Mr Lamb stressed that it was "important to keep the party united."
He added: "I believe in this policy. I really think we will look back in 10 or 15 years' time and think, actually that was quite a brave and bold and socially progressive thing to do." However, the proposals - which he said would see the 25% poorest students pay less than now - would be "an engine for social mobility".
And he accused the National Union of Students of "not being straight" about its own support for the graduate tax option. "He [Nick Clegg] wants to get everyone on side and supporting a policy which, I agree and he agrees, is absolutely in accordance with Lib Dem values," he told the Politics Show.
Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said what really mattered was that the government won Thursday's vote. Mr Clegg earlier told the Independent on Sunday that he believed in a policy which was "brave and bold" and would "lower barriers of entry to university."
"The key thing is, does the government get its business [through Parliament]?" he told Sky News. "That is the only thing that matters."
He said he had not asked his Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb - said to be a potential rebel - how he would vote, adding that internal Lib Dem discussions about the issue reflected the fact "they were coming to terms with being in government".
'Cruel blow''Cruel blow'
Days ahead of the vote, Labour leader Ed Miliband also took the opportunity to make his position on the issue clear. Days ahead of the vote, Labour leader Ed Miliband has also sought to make his position on the issue clear, saying the fees increase would set back the cause of social mobility by a generation.
He said the plans to increase fees would set back the cause of social mobility by a generation, by persuading youngsters from poor families not to go to university. href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/04/ed-miliband-student-fees-vandalism" >Writing in the Observer, he said: "The proposals amount to a rejection of the long-standing recognition of our collective responsibility for higher education.
Writing in the Observer, he said: "The proposals amount to a rejection of the long-standing recognition of our collective responsibility for higher education.
"Make no mistake - if this bill is voted through on Thursday, the government will deal a cruel blow to the chances of the next generation and betray the hopes of our young people.""Make no mistake - if this bill is voted through on Thursday, the government will deal a cruel blow to the chances of the next generation and betray the hopes of our young people."
However, senior figures within his own party have expressed concerns about Mr Miliband's alternative plan for a graduate tax, shadow chancellor Alan Johnson saying it may not be "workable".
The proposed increase does not apply in Scotland nor for students resident in Wales, wherever they chose to go on to study in the UK.The proposed increase does not apply in Scotland nor for students resident in Wales, wherever they chose to go on to study in the UK.