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| Tuition fees of £9,000 'will mean places cut' | Tuition fees of £9,000 'will mean places cut' |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter | By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter |
| The Labour leader has warned higher than expected tuition fees could mean cutting tens of thousands of university places in England. | The Labour leader has warned higher than expected tuition fees could mean cutting tens of thousands of university places in England. |
| Ed Miliband demanded answers from Prime Minister David Cameron - as latest figures show three quarters of universities plan maximum £9,000 fees. | Ed Miliband demanded answers from Prime Minister David Cameron - as latest figures show three quarters of universities plan maximum £9,000 fees. |
| Ministers had budgeted for average fees of £7,500 - saying universities charging £9,000 would be "exceptional". | Ministers had budgeted for average fees of £7,500 - saying universities charging £9,000 would be "exceptional". |
| A government spokesman said it did not plan to cut student numbers. | A government spokesman said it did not plan to cut student numbers. |
| A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesman said: "Even if the average tuition loan goes above £7,500 this would be affordable within the overall higher education funding budget and there is no evidence at this stage that there is any funding gap. | A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesman said: "Even if the average tuition loan goes above £7,500 this would be affordable within the overall higher education funding budget and there is no evidence at this stage that there is any funding gap. |
| "Because of extensive fee waivers and bursaries which universities plan to make available we will not have a precise figures until late next year, when students have enrolled and received their loans." | "Because of extensive fee waivers and bursaries which universities plan to make available we will not have a precise figures until late next year, when students have enrolled and received their loans." |
| But Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union, said: "This policy has become a runaway horse and, without strong intervention soon, could have disastrous effects for our future higher education system." | But Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union, said: "This policy has become a runaway horse and, without strong intervention soon, could have disastrous effects for our future higher education system." |
| A higher level of tuition fee, from its current capped level of £3,290 per year, will mean higher up-front loans to students - and there have been warnings of a "black hole" in the higher education budget. | A higher level of tuition fee, from its current capped level of £3,290 per year, will mean higher up-front loans to students - and there have been warnings of a "black hole" in the higher education budget. |
| The warning comes on the deadline day for universities to submit their plans to the Office for Fair Access for 2012, the first year of the new fees regime. | The warning comes on the deadline day for universities to submit their plans to the Office for Fair Access for 2012, the first year of the new fees regime. |
| Almost 70 higher education institutions - more than half - have declared their plans for tuition fees - and more than three quarters of these want to charge £9,000 for some or all of their courses. | Almost 70 higher education institutions - more than half - have declared their plans for tuition fees - and more than three quarters of these want to charge £9,000 for some or all of their courses. |
| The full picture of tuition fees will not be known publicly until July, when the Office for Fair Access confirms the fees that it has approved for each university. | The full picture of tuition fees will not be known publicly until July, when the Office for Fair Access confirms the fees that it has approved for each university. |
| But Mr Miliband predicted the cost of loans could be up to £500m more annually than expected. | But Mr Miliband predicted the cost of loans could be up to £500m more annually than expected. |
| Based on House of Commons Library figures this would put 36,000 university places at risk, he said. | Based on House of Commons Library figures this would put 36,000 university places at risk, he said. |
| 'Double jeopardy' | 'Double jeopardy' |
| He told reporters in London: "David Cameron said £9,000 fees would only be charged in exceptional circumstances. | He told reporters in London: "David Cameron said £9,000 fees would only be charged in exceptional circumstances. |
| "Today we know that £9,000 is not going to be the exception. Every single one of the leading Russell Group university is to charge £9,000. David Cameron looks set to break his pledge. | "Today we know that £9,000 is not going to be the exception. Every single one of the leading Russell Group university is to charge £9,000. David Cameron looks set to break his pledge. |
| "He claimed that the new package, higher fees and and a much reduced teaching grant, would save the taxpayer £2.9bn. | "He claimed that the new package, higher fees and and a much reduced teaching grant, would save the taxpayer £2.9bn. |
| "Now with most fees being between £8,000 and £9,000 the government will have to pay out even more money in loans." | "Now with most fees being between £8,000 and £9,000 the government will have to pay out even more money in loans." |
| He added: "Whatever the exact number there will be a shortfall in government figures and a shortfall in HE [higher education] funding is a double jeopardy for young people." | He added: "Whatever the exact number there will be a shortfall in government figures and a shortfall in HE [higher education] funding is a double jeopardy for young people." |
| And he challenged the prime minister to say whether he planned to cut student numbers or university budgets still further. | And he challenged the prime minister to say whether he planned to cut student numbers or university budgets still further. |
| Ministers have accepted privately that a significant number of students will be paying higher fees. | Ministers have accepted privately that a significant number of students will be paying higher fees. |
| But they reject any suggestion of a financial crisis, arguing fee waivers and cheaper degree courses in further education colleges and offered by private providers will lower the average cost. | But they reject any suggestion of a financial crisis, arguing fee waivers and cheaper degree courses in further education colleges and offered by private providers will lower the average cost. |
| They also claim that because the Treasury will ultimately recoup two-thirds of the amount loaned to students the extra expenditure is not as serious as it may seem. | They also claim that because the Treasury will ultimately recoup two-thirds of the amount loaned to students the extra expenditure is not as serious as it may seem. |
| Universities minister David Willetts played down the likelihood of a black hole in university finances. | Universities minister David Willetts played down the likelihood of a black hole in university finances. |
| He said because of the fee waivers many students would pay less than the published price, and would therefore borrow less. | He said because of the fee waivers many students would pay less than the published price, and would therefore borrow less. |
| Aaron Porter, the outgoing president of the National Union of Students, accused the government of causing "costly chaos" with its university reforms. | Aaron Porter, the outgoing president of the National Union of Students, accused the government of causing "costly chaos" with its university reforms. |
| A White Paper setting out how higher education will be reformed in England is expected in the summer. | A White Paper setting out how higher education will be reformed in England is expected in the summer. |