Students vote against fees

THE National Union of Students voted overwhelmingly to continue its current line on education funding at its annual conference, writes Harriet Swain.

After a fierce debate, members decided to reaffirm their opposition to tuition fees and top-up fees and to lobby for more funding from business.

While they agreed to make student hardship a top priority and to campaign for more maintenance money, they stopped short of calling for maintenance grants to be kept. Instead, they resolved to raise with the government the problem of parents who fail to give students the money for fees or maintenance expected of them.

There was also backing for other Dearing recommendations not concerning funding, particularly those on quality, postgraduates and part-timers.

Members proved more radical in the environment debate, agreeing to withdraw as soon as possible from the McDonald's privilege card which gives students a free burger if they by a McDonald's meal. The decision will cost the union about Pounds 29,000.