DEBT LEVELS FOR STUDENTS ON LONGER COURSES

That this House notes that the average student debt on graduation exceeds ú10,000; further notes that students on longer degree courses face larger accumulative debts; also notes the BMA's annual survey of medical students' finances for 2000-01, which found that average final year debt for medical students increased by 23.6 per cent. on the previous year to ú13,350 and that over 40 per cent. of final year students had debts of over ú15,000; believes that people from all backgrounds should have an equal opportunity to benefit from higher education, but is concerned that debt and fear of debt act as a significant disincentive, particularly for those from lower-income backgrounds; further believes that the introduction of tuition fees and the abolition of maintenance grants has significantly worsened the situation; congratulates the partnership administrations in Scotland and Wales for taking firm steps to reform student finance and widen access to higher education; and calls on the Government to follow their example by abolishing tuition fees and restoring maintenance grants for the poorest students across the United Kingdom.