Chloe on the Browne Review

After a visit today to the INTO UEA partnership Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, commented on the Browne Review of Higher Education (HE) funding and student finance.

The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance was launched in November 2009, tasked with making recommendations to the Government on the future of university fees and financial support for students. Lord Browne has today set out the key recommendations of the report which include a free market approach to tuition fees by lifting the current cap on them, the scrapping of upfront tuition fee payments, and an increase in the basic maintenance grants. The Government will now consider his proposals.

Chloe Smith MP today met Andrew Colin, Chairman of INTO, Stuart Holmes, Director of INTO, and Dr Richard Harvey, Dean of UEA London, at the partnership's new building near London's Liverpool St station. Chloe is pictured here with Stuart Holmes.

Commenting on the report Chloe Smith said:

"I think Lord Browne's conclusions show a lot of careful thought. Having gone to university myself, from a Norfolk comprehensive, and paid my way through a combination of small parental help, government loan and part time work, I sympathise strongly with what individuals and their families may feel they face in the world of studying. But students on the whole want to take responsibility for their independent choices, and people feel that we must have a fair system. I have consistently said that we cannot ask lower paid people to pay through the tax system to allow a minority to benefit from higher education. I agree that:

1. More investment should be available for HE
2. Students should get increased choice
3. Everyone who has the ability and the aspiration to study should be able to
4. No one should have to pay upfront
5. When payments are made they should be affordable
6. Part time students should get a better deal.

I also think that our local institutions will do well in a world of increased student choice and better standards. UEA, NUCA and City College all have a good track record and I am sure they and their student representatives will rise to this challenge. This could be good for Norwich and our economy."