Law Firm Takes Action Against Higher Tuition Fees

Fri, 04 Mar 2011

The Government’s plans to increase student tuition fees to up to £9,000 a year are to be challenged in court, according to reports.

The Independent states that lawyers intend to seek a judicial review of the decision on the grounds it contravenes the law on human rights as it could discriminate against students from poorer families.

According to the newspaper, legal firm Public Interest Lawyers is planning to take action on behalf of two sixth-formers, Callum Hurley and Katy Moore, who would be due to start university in September 2012 - when the tuition fees rise takes effect.

The firm said it had sent a "pre-action protocol letter" about the fee increase to Business Secretary, Vince Cable – seen as the first step to seeking a judicial review.

The legal action comes as the Government warned that leading universities seeking to charge the maximum annual tuition fee (£9,000 a year) face price competition from further education colleges for student applicants.

Universities minister David Willetts said further education colleges and private institutions will be able to offer degree courses to students as the Government looks to make the market more competitive.

However he added that instead of charging close to £9,000 a year, their fees could be less than £6,000.
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