STUDENTS have told Bury MP David Chaytor to help scrap Government plans for tuition fees.

More than 250 scholars at Holy Cross College, Bury, presented a petition to the Labour member when he paid his first visit since being elected.

The MP for Bury North showed sympathy with their arguments, but urged them to wait for the Government's published proposals.

Phil McGhee said the student council, on which he sits, was opposed to cuts in funding, abolition of grants and the introduction of tuition fees.

"He would not commit himself to supporting either protest we made until the Government confirms its consultation document next month, " said Mr McGhee.

"He promised to come in to talk to us again."

Mr Chaytor also spoke to the college principal, lecturers and staff during his visit last Friday (Sep 12).

"Most people now accept, if we are to increase the numbers of people going to university to 40 per cent, there needs to be other ways of funding higher education," said the MP.

"The National Union of Students have now accepted the long term loans policy to pay for maintenance, but tuition fees do carry great dangers.

"I have serious reservations as to whether it will be a deterrent on going to university, particularly for students in low income families.

"However, I am not fundamentally opposed to it in principle. All other groups of post-18 students, except full time undergraduates, already pay fees."

Mr Chaytor added: "The key thing is, if they are introduced, to ensure that this is done gradually with proper protection for low income families and to ensure that the income from fees is re-invested in education."

He urged the students to make a formal response to the Government's consultation document.

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