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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Government must apply 'joined up thinking' to problem of student debt demands AM
August 29, 2006 12:47 PM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Peter Black, has challenged the Labour governments in Cardiff and Westminster to provide a little joined up thinking when it comes to looking at student debt levels.
A recent UK-wide survey by Natwest Bank has discovered that the average amount that sixth-formers expect to pay for a three years course has risen by £5000 over the year to £33,512. The survey also shows that the amounts of debt students have hanging around their necks upon graduation are also up by £1000 to £15000.
"This eye-watering figure includes the effect of top-up fees in England, which have so far been avoided in Wales thanks to the leadership of the Welsh Liberal Democrats," said Mr Black. "Nevertheless, we cannot afford to be complacent and simply trust Welsh Labour to do what is best for Welsh students and Welsh higher education. That is why I and my party will be seeking a manifesto commitment from all the main Welsh parties that they will resist top-up fees for Welsh students studying in Wales after the next election."
"Labour must apply more of the joined up thinking that they are so eager to urge upon everyone else. In the last month we have had various Labour Ministers indicating that the government is finally beginning to take the problem of escalating personal debt in this country seriously. Yet it seems they remain perfectly content to ramp up the cost of going to college, both in terms of the fees they want to charge, and the pitiful amount of money they are prepared to offer students for them to live upon."
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