Higher Education Fees

Debate between John Denham and Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

Thursday 9th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Denham]

It is hardly for me to try to get inside the heads of Government Members. If we read what they say, however, we see that they think, purely and simply, that subjects have no value unless they have a value in the marketplace.

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

According to the last figures available, when the shadow Minister was in government, of the 80,000 children on free school meals, only 40 went on to Oxford and Cambridge. Does he not accept that his proposals for a graduate tax would mean less social mobility and people repaying a higher amount at an earlier stage?