YORK MP Hugh Bayley has revealed he is not supporting a huge Labour revolt against controversial student "top-up" fees.

During the last Parliamentary session, Mr Bayley signed a rebel Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for the policy to be ditched in favour of a flat-rate increase in the fee paid by all students.

But the Labour MP has decided not to back a new EDM even though it has already won the support of 143 of his colleagues.

Selby MP John Grogan is helping to lead the revolt, warning that poorer youngsters could be put off applying to top universities if they charge up to £3,000 a year.

But Mr Bayley said the Government was "doing rather well" in addressing his fears and he would make up his mind whether to vote in favour of "top-up" fees in a crucial Commons vote at a later date.

He told the Evening Press: "Some of the concerns which are expressed in the EDM I do not agree with. For instance, the fear that students from low-income backgrounds will be put-off.

"I do not think there is much evidence of that at all. When the £1,000 up-front fee was introduced there was an increase in the number of applicants from low-income families because of the exemptions. That will become even more generous.

"The one remaining concern I do have is if there is a scale of fees from £0 to £3,000, we may get a bigger improvement in quality in those which charge more and have larger budgets than those which charge less.

"I have had a long conversation with Charles Clarke (Education Secretary) and I'm waiting to see how the Government responds."

Mr Bayley said he had been impressed by concessions already floated by the Education Secretary. Poorer students will have the first £1,100 of any fees paid, and receive a grant of up to £1,000 per year.

In addition, the threshold for repaying any debt after a student has graduated could be increased from £15,000 to £20,000. Graduates who are struggling to re-pay the debt after 25 years could have it written off.

Mr Bayley said: "I do have a particular concern about variable fees but I will look at the package as a whole.

"I will talk to the University of York and at the end of the day I will look at what changes the Government have made and then make up my mind."

The EDM signed by Mr Bayley in the last Parliamentary session had stated: "Differential fees will deter students from low-income backgrounds from applying to the top academic institutions and to certain courses. If extra money is required, the Government should implement a measured increase across the board."

On Tuesday, Tony Blair insisted there would be "absolutely no retreat" from the "top-up" fee principle.

At his monthly Downing Street news conference, he confirmed that the Higher Education Bill would receive its Commons second reading by the end of January.

He said that the measure was "utterly essential" to widen access to university and to the future of the British economy.

Updated: 08:42 Thursday, December 04, 2003