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| MPs call for delay in plans for competition for university places | MPs call for delay in plans for competition for university places |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Plans for universities in England to compete for some student places should be delayed, a Commons committee says. | Plans for universities in England to compete for some student places should be delayed, a Commons committee says. |
| Under the reforms, universities which offer cheaper degrees or attract high-achieving students can expand by bidding for extra degree course places. | |
| The Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee said a cap on places should not be lifted "overnight". | The Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee said a cap on places should not be lifted "overnight". |
| The government has argued that its plans will mean a better deal for students from poor backgrounds. | The government has argued that its plans will mean a better deal for students from poor backgrounds. |
| In a report on the government's changes to higher education, the committee said the market mechanisms should only be brought in at least 12 months after tuition fees rise. | In a report on the government's changes to higher education, the committee said the market mechanisms should only be brought in at least 12 months after tuition fees rise. |
| Fees in England are due to rise up to a maximum of £9,000 a year from next autumn. | Fees in England are due to rise up to a maximum of £9,000 a year from next autumn. |
| Fees at Welsh universities are also rising to this maximum level, but only for students from other parts of the UK. | Fees at Welsh universities are also rising to this maximum level, but only for students from other parts of the UK. |
| In Scotland, Scottish students will continue to pay no tuition fees but those coming from other parts of the UK will pay up to £9,000 a year. | In Scotland, Scottish students will continue to pay no tuition fees but those coming from other parts of the UK will pay up to £9,000 a year. |
| The MPs' report was just about England's plans. | The MPs' report was just about England's plans. |
| Under these, universities will be able to take as many students as they like if they have scored top grades of two As and a B in their A-levels. | Under these, universities will be able to take as many students as they like if they have scored top grades of two As and a B in their A-levels. |
| And universities which keep their fees below £7,500 a year will be able to bid for 20,000 places. | And universities which keep their fees below £7,500 a year will be able to bid for 20,000 places. |
| In the past, universities were funded for a set number of places. | In the past, universities were funded for a set number of places. |
| 'Challenging timetable' | 'Challenging timetable' |
| The report said the delay was needed because consultations on these market mechanisms were still going on. | The report said the delay was needed because consultations on these market mechanisms were still going on. |
| It said the government had set itself a "challenging timetable" for a "radical overhaul" of the sector and that the changes should be brought in as a package, not in a "piecemeal way". | It said the government had set itself a "challenging timetable" for a "radical overhaul" of the sector and that the changes should be brought in as a package, not in a "piecemeal way". |
| It also called for a re-think on the financial support given to poorer students, saying more money should be given to cover living costs while students were at university rather than in the form of fee waivers (discounts) on fees. | It also called for a re-think on the financial support given to poorer students, saying more money should be given to cover living costs while students were at university rather than in the form of fee waivers (discounts) on fees. |
| And the MPs called for a "Pupil Premium" such as that being brought in for schools in England, where money follows poorer students. | And the MPs called for a "Pupil Premium" such as that being brought in for schools in England, where money follows poorer students. |
| Universities Minister David Willetts said: "We have told universities to be much more ambitious with their plans for attracting people from low-income backgrounds. | Universities Minister David Willetts said: "We have told universities to be much more ambitious with their plans for attracting people from low-income backgrounds. |
| "University investment in programmes such as summer schools, scholarships and fee waivers will increase significantly." | "University investment in programmes such as summer schools, scholarships and fee waivers will increase significantly." |
| He added: "We have to get on with ending the present system of setting quotas of places at each university because it lets students down." | He added: "We have to get on with ending the present system of setting quotas of places at each university because it lets students down." |
| Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK's chief executive, said the organisation agreed with the committee's concerns about the speed of the government's reforms. | Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK's chief executive, said the organisation agreed with the committee's concerns about the speed of the government's reforms. |
| "The government needs to give universities a period of stability to allow these changes to bed in and to give everyone a chance to understands their implications before any more changes are introduced," she said. | "The government needs to give universities a period of stability to allow these changes to bed in and to give everyone a chance to understands their implications before any more changes are introduced," she said. |
| Uncertainty | Uncertainty |
| Earlier this week, it was confirmed that 27 universities were lowering their fees from the levels they set earlier in the year, because they had had to do so before the government announced its market mechanisms for places in a White Paper. | Earlier this week, it was confirmed that 27 universities were lowering their fees from the levels they set earlier in the year, because they had had to do so before the government announced its market mechanisms for places in a White Paper. |
| Professor Les Ebdon, chairman of the Million+ group, which represents many of the former polytechnic universities, said: "I welcome the fact that MPs have recognised that a great deal of uncertainty has been created for students and universities because of poor communication and too many policy changes introduced by ministers at the last minute. | Professor Les Ebdon, chairman of the Million+ group, which represents many of the former polytechnic universities, said: "I welcome the fact that MPs have recognised that a great deal of uncertainty has been created for students and universities because of poor communication and too many policy changes introduced by ministers at the last minute. |
| "MPs are also absolutely right to recommend that changes to student number controls should not be introduced at the same time as changes to the fees and funding system. | "MPs are also absolutely right to recommend that changes to student number controls should not be introduced at the same time as changes to the fees and funding system. |
| "Unfortunately ministers have already jumped the gun and this is exactly what is happening in 2012. This has created further confusion." | "Unfortunately ministers have already jumped the gun and this is exactly what is happening in 2012. This has created further confusion." |
| In his evidence to the committee, Mr Willetts had addressed criticism about the timetable for the changes. | In his evidence to the committee, Mr Willetts had addressed criticism about the timetable for the changes. |
| "I recognise that in a perfect world we might have published the White Paper and then made the specific decision on fees," he said. | "I recognise that in a perfect world we might have published the White Paper and then made the specific decision on fees," he said. |
| "The reality, however, was that the priority for the incoming coalition was to sort out the public finances." | "The reality, however, was that the priority for the incoming coalition was to sort out the public finances." |
| The president of the National Union of Students (NUS), Liam Burns, said: "As students come under sustained financial pressure and struggle to make ends meet, we are pleased that the select committee have recognised the need to prioritise upfront financial support." | The president of the National Union of Students (NUS), Liam Burns, said: "As students come under sustained financial pressure and struggle to make ends meet, we are pleased that the select committee have recognised the need to prioritise upfront financial support." |