Despite powerful opposition from its own backbenchers, the government swiftly adopted the recommendations of the Dearing committee, to make university students contribute towards the cost of their tuition fees.

ECONOMIST: The long honeymoon | The

So the Dearing committee has some justification in arguing that, even after the introduction of tuition fees, state spending on higher education should continue to grow in line with national income, and that this would be a wise investment.

ECONOMIST: Universities