Tuition hikes draw fire in Britain

LONDON, April 9 (UPI) -- A growing number of British universities said they would raise tuition to the maximum allowed, despite the government's intention to limit increases.

The government said universities charging more than $9,828 per year occur in "exceptional circumstances," The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

At this point, however, a study showed 65 percent of British universities have said they would increase tuition in 2012 to $14,742, the maximum amount allowed.

Shadow Business Secretary John Denham said, "The Tory-led government has completely lost control of its fees policy. With more universities charging $14,742, the government is set to have a big funding gap it will need to fill."

Denham said funding student loans would cost the government $1.6 billion over four years more than what was anticipated, a figure that was, "unnecessary, unfair and unsustainable."

University minister David Willetts said the $1.6 billion figure was "ludicrous" as the figure failed to account for discounts for poorer students, which range from $3,276 to nearly $10,000 for the poorest students.

"Yet again, Labor's figures don't add up. We are on track to deliver reforms to higher education that mean better teaching for students, savings for the Exchequer and no payments up front for students," Willetts said.