13. To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the proposed timetable and scope is of his Department’s review of student finance. (279015)

My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, told the House in January 2004 that there would be an independent review of tuition fees once we had evidence on the first three years of the variable fee regime. The first three years of operation will not be concluded until the autumn. Ahead of the tuition fee review, the Government will publish their framework for the future development of higher education.