9 August 2010

million+ says that UCU figures no basis to rule out graduate tax

The university think-tank million+ has said that figures produced by the University and College Union (UCU) which suggest that nurses and teachers would pay thousands more if a graduate tax was introduced should be disregarded in the debate about the future funding of universities and students. UCU’s calculations are based on the assumption that a graduate tax would be levied at between 3 and 7%

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+ said ‘A graduate tax should not be ruled out on the basis of UCU’s calculations which assume that a tax would be levied at between 3% and 7%. These random figures do little to promote a rationale assessment of the merits or otherwise of a graduate tax at a time when both the Coalition Government and Lord Browne’s Review are committed to examining all options, including a graduate tax.

In fact, a graduate tax of just 1% would provide sufficient funding for the current fees and fee loans to be set aside and would maintain current resource flows. A graduate tax is not the same as a graduate contribution system and both have pros and cons. Whatever their merits, both would immediately be undermined if the real reason why graduates have to pay significantly more is a further cut in the public funding of universities that have already lost £1bn, as a result of the Treasury’s October Spending Review’.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk

2. For more information, comment or interviews from million+ please contact Pam Tatlow on 020 7717 1655 or 07795645241