The campus question

Do you agree with the Welsh decision not to allow top-up fees, at least until 2007?

Jane Davidson, the Welsh Education Secretary, has decided that university top-up fees won't happen in Wales for the next term of the Welsh Assembly, which runs until 2006

NATASHA HIRST President of Undeb Cenedlaethol Myfyrwyr Cymru (UCMC)/NUS Wales

NUS Wales strongly opposes top-up fees, so we are delighted that this regressive and elitist policy will not be introduced here. However, we share Jane Davidson's concerns that in the event of top-up fees coming in across the border, there will be an increasing funding gap between Welsh and English universities.

PROFESSOR JAMES LUSTY Vice-chancellor of the University of Wales College, Newport

We are totally opposed to top-up fees, which could result in a higher-education system where choice is based on a student's ability to pay rather than the ability to benefit. It will also lead to further debt for students, making higher education an unattractive option for some prospective students, particularly those from low-income households.

JENNY REES Education reporter, Western Mail, Cardiff

Wales now has some breathing space to see how the dust will settle on this contentious issue. It also means that if fees are eventually introduced in Wales, universities can have a better idea of where to position themselves within that market, especially as the Welsh Assembly Government is still trying to strengthen the position of universities and institutions in Wales through greater collaboration.

MARGARET PHELAN Regional officer of Wales for the National Association for Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE)

We hope that the lack of enthusiasm for top-up fees in Wales continues. If top-up fees are introduced in England, more Welsh students may try to study at home, but universities in Wales could be flooded with applications from students in England. Someone will have to lose out.

DAVID WARNER Principal of Swansea Institute of Higher Education

Wales is wisely taking a wait-and-see attitude, and I'm sure that during the next few months there will be some interesting internal debates about whether or not to introduce top-up fees.

BARRY JOHNSON Assistant general secretary of Wales for the Association of University Teachers (AUT)

The AUT is opposed to top-up fees. While we welcome the assembly's commitment not to introduce them in the current assembly, we want them to maintain this position, which is supported by the overwhelming majority of the population.