Letter: Michael Portillo's 'off-the-cuff' remarks on education standards abroad

Sir: Apropos of Peter Lilley's and Michael Portillo's recent remarks, your readers may be interested to know that British people over the age of 25 living in Germany can get their university fees paid for by the state; in Britain even British citizens over 25 get no help for their fees from the Government. The Germans regard their policy as evidence of their commitment to education and to Europe. Mr Lilley would no doubt regard it as a loophole to be closed if it existed in Britain.

My daughter benefited from German liberality and now teaches in a German university - and, pace Mr Portillo, she did not have to pay for her degree.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN SAFFORD

Richmond, Surrey

5 February