MP for Putney's Diary Top-Up fees, threats to close local primary schools and on the national stage the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Tony
Colman MP for Putney writes
In this week's diary for PutneySW15.com our
MP covers Top-Up fees, threats to close local primary schools and on the
national stage the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Top
- up fees
Last week saw the annual Labour Party Conference, this year held at Bournemouth.
One of the many issues under discussion at Conference was the controversial
top-up fee proposal. My own views on the subject differ from the Government's
current proposals. I do not believe that top-up fees are a good idea and
fear that they will inhibit students from poorer families from choosing
elite universities.
I gave an interview on Radio Four's World at One from Conference in which
I pledged to lobby the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, to get this
proposal dropped. If the Government insists on carrying through with the
proposal I fully intend to vote against the Government on this issue.
My own views on University funding stem from my personal experience. I
grew up in rural Norfolk and came from a poor farming background. I was
lucky enough to attend a grammar school and then to be given the opportunity
to study at Cambridge University. I do not think that I would have been
prepared to pay the higher fees elite universities such as Cambridge will
be able to charge if the current proposals go through.
I will be following developments on this issue closely and would welcome
the comments of Putney residents.
Threat to Primary Schools
Further to my last diary entry I have now heard that Wandsworth Council
are threatening to close two popular schools in the Putney area, Ronald
Ross and Southmead in West Hill. The Council maintains that there is a
25% surplus of places in these schools. While I understand the economic
argument it is important that young children should be able to find school
places locally.
I will be consulting with the Education Department of the Council and
with the head teachers concerned.
Inter-Parliamentary Union
After attending the Labour Party Conference I went to Geneva to attend
the 109th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly where we discussed the subject
of Global Public Goods such as the provision of clean air and the eradication
of disease. I hope the efforts of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will help
further action on these important transnational issues.
Tony Colman MP
For more
information about what I've been up to and how to contact me go to my
web site www.tonycolman.org.uk
Tony Colman MP
For Labour Party information: www.labour.org.uk
For Government Headlines: www.ukonline.gov.uk
For Parliamentary Information: www.parliament.uk
October 8th, 2003
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