A NORTH YORKSHIRE MP has predicted backbench resistance to "watered down" Government plans which will allow elite universities like York to charge controversial top-up fees.

The proposals will mean universities will be fined if they charge the fees, but fail to attract more students from poorer backgrounds.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Press, Education Secretary Charles Clarke has watered down proposals for an "access regulator" to set strict targets for boosting the admission of working-class youngsters.

Instead top universities will be allowed to set their own targets, which would be submitted to the new Office for Fair Access (OFFA).

The goal will be included in an agreement signed by the university - which will grant permission to charge students up to £3,000 per year for certain courses.

The agreement will last for five years - but OFFA will have the power to order fines against the university if it is not satisfied with its efforts to boost the number of less-well-off youngsters.

Selby MP John Grogan, an outspoken critic of the proposal, welcomed efforts to encourage more working-class youngsters to apply to top universities.

But he said: "This is not a retreat from the principle of top-up fees and that is what I do not like. Any attempt to impose this will still meet resistance on the Labour benches."

A spokesperson for the University of York said: "As yet we have not reached a decision on the specific question of differential or 'top-up' fees and the issue will be discussed in our major committees, which have academic staff, students and lay people as members, over the next few months."

Updated: 10:46 Wednesday, April 09, 2003