As if last year's A-level fiasco was not bad enough, under the latest plans, university students will be saddled with ever-increasing debt.

All this from a government that said its first, second and third priorities were "education, education, education".

In the higher education White Paper, the Government has finally admitted to parents and students it has broken its promise not to introduce top-up fees.

The success of its policy will be measured against three criteria. Is it fair to all students? Does it help universities remain strong, independent institutions? Will it spread opportunity? On all three counts, it is lacking.

A medical student's years of studying could cost in excess of £20,000.

These very high levels of debt will deter many people from lower-income backgrounds. The access regulator is social engineering at is worst, with many children being denied places in university they deserve because their face doesn't fit.

And the arbitrary 50 per cent target downgrades the importance of vocational education and entices students on to unsuitable courses, only for them to drop out with massive debts.

What happens after graduation when a women wants to take a career break to raise a family? She will still have the burden of debt bearing down on her.

Graduates will also have a problem in getting a mortgage. Any bank or building society will see it as a bad risk with so much debt still to be repaid and will turn down the application.

The Government had the chance to reassure students and parents, to help universities become stronger and more independent and make a genuine attempt to spread opportunity.

It has missed this chance and the real victims will be student, parents and the universities.

-Carol Ramsden, Hollingbury and Stanmer Conservative Action Team, Ditchling Rise, Brighton