To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to issue a directive prohibiting colleges of higher education from imposing top-up fees.

The setting of fees for degree and other courses is properly a matter for individual higher education institutions. Primary legislation, for which the Government have no plans, would be required to change this. Equally, the Government have no plans to change the arrangements whereby standard fees are met in full for students eligible for an award under the awards arrangements.