UCU comment on Labour plans for student grants

The University and College Union (UCU) today welcomed the news that the Labour party would use an increase in corporation tax to fund student maintenance grants. The union first floated a similar idea when it proposed increasing corporation tax to just the G7 average to cover university tuition fees through its business education tax.

UCU said today that it was pleased there was a gathering consensus that business should pay its fair share for the pool of graduates it enjoyed every year, and that the time had come for a proper debate about how all beneficiaries of higher education contributed to its cost.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'For too long university policy has been based on looking for new ways to squeeze more out of students, and big business has picked from a pool of talented graduates with little contribution. By bringing corporation tax in line with other leading countries, businesses can finally start to pay their way.'