Mr. Tim Conlon:

We need to explore and rebalance how we support students to get through higher education. The grant system is difficult for those on the margins, given they either qualify or do not. We need to examine the overall balance of that. Student loans have not necessarily been successful in the UK, for example. The increase in student fees there has had a fairly major impact on certain cohorts of students we might want to attract. The number of mature students in the UK has fallen significantly because of the introduction of higher fees and the growth of student loans. Certain cohorts of students are risk averse and will not want to take on a loan, so it can act as a barrier. It needs to be thought about carefully. I would prefer a system of fees and grants that is more equitably balanced towards supporting the students most in need. I think that is the issue to examine.