Confusion surrounding EU students and Top Up Fees

5.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Jan 2004

Release time: 20/01/2004 Embargo: none

Confusion surrounding EU students and Top Up Fees

With a week to go before the House of Commons vote on Top Up Fees,

confusion over the position of students from other European Union

countries has not been addressed by the Government.

West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne said:

"The Government seems to have forgotten about students from other EU

countries coming to the UK to study, in its rush to persuade its own back

benchers to support the bill.

"They have completely ignored the consequences of their top-up fee bill

and it is important that the government clarifies the situation before the

vote next Tuesday.

"This further demonstrates the mess the government has got itself in with

their ill thought out plans for student finance. I very much hope the bill

is defeated next Tuesday"

ENDS

For further information, comment or to book an interview, please telephone

Liz Lynne on 0032 2284 7521 (Brussels) or 077644 52725 (mobile) or Press

Officer Stuart Ritchie on 01789 266354 or 07833668158(mobile).