NUS plans fees upset

The National Union of Students will step up its anti-tuition fees campaign to keep the issue on the pre-election agenda, it emerged this week, writes Phil Baty

Student union presidents at this week's NUS National Anti-Tuition Fees conference at the London School of Economics Union redoubled efforts against institutions already considering fees. Douglas Trainer, NUS president, told delegates: "'No way' to tuition fees." The union plans to disrupt university administration and target future students and their parents.

The Government's launch last week of a competition to sell Pounds 1.6 billion of the student loan debt to the private sector raised few eyebrows. "We are opposed to the student loan company whoever owns it," said an NUS spokeswoman.

The sale is expected to be completed in the autumn.