I URGE all the region's MPs to vote against the proposed top-up fees for students.

The Prime Minister asks: "Why should the taxes of low-paid workers fund the further education of better-off children?"

According to the Government university graduates can expect to earn £400,000 more than non-graduates during their lifetime.

They will therefore pay an extra £164,000 in income tax and National Insurance.

If the remaining £236,000 is spent they will pay £41,300 in VAT plus an incalculable amount in petrol tax, airport tax, car tax and a myriad of other taxes.

In other words the Government will probably recoup more than £250,000 in extra taxes from university graduates compared with non-graduates. Students are now being told they must pay for this privilege.

Well, I've got news for you Mr Blair. Your own figures show they will more than repay their education costs without having to repay tuition fees on top.

Tony Taylor,

Grassholme,

Woodthorpe, York.

...I AM amazed to see regular letter-writer "doctor" Duncan Campbell is now advocating what seems to be a system of fines for successful university students (November 3).

Those who drop out, or fail, would pay no fees while those who get first class honours would be charged the most.

"A real incentive, I'm sure" says Dr Irony.

One can only ask why this writer always employs the "doctor" title: if he were an MD, PhD or D.Phil one would think he would have mulled over the consequences of his proposal before rushing into print.

David Henderson,

Riverside Crescent,

Huntington,

York.

Updated: 10:17 Friday, December 05, 2003