► Motion on Student Support

00/01

Valid AULUC 2006

 

MOTION ON STUDENT SUPPORT

Proposed by Simon Luscombe, [University College London]

Seconded by Rob Fear [University College London, Finance & Adminstration Officer]

 

This Union notes:

 

1.        In real terms the value of student support has fallen over the past 20 years

2.        That according to the office of national statistics the cost of living on London is rising at between 8 and 10% per annum.

3.        That support in the form of loans and access funds only rises by 3-5% per annum.

 

This Union Believes:

 

1.        That free education is a right, tuition fees are wrong and that the grant should be restored. 

2.        Whilst we are waiting for our long term objectives above we need to fight for the short term, to ensure any student who want to, can afford to study in London.

3.        London students have been particularly badly hit by the fall in the value of student support.

4.        That the level of support available to students in London should rise by at least £50 per week.

5.        That it is the voice of over 120,000 students studying in London and as such should be campaigning hard on this very important issue.

 

This Union Resolves:

 

1.      To make the campaign to increase the level of student support in London one of its major campaigns over the next 12 months.

2.      To set up a working party with the explicit aims of:

 

[a)    Co-ordinating a well organised campaign across London, calling for higher levels of student support.

 

This campaign should include:

(i)        Arranging meeting with government ministers to explain the current problems.

 (ii)        Getting an MP to table an EDM in the House of Commons calling for an increase in student support in London (sometime after the expected general election).

(iii)       Writing to every MP asking them to support the EDM.

(iv)      Encouraging every constituent union to write to every London MP urging them to support the EDM.

(v)     Encouraging every constituent union to get their students to write to their home MPs asking for support.

(vi)      Finding one or more MP's to host a lobby of Parliament in mid-late October 2001 (after Parliament’s summer break).

(vii)     Organising a mass lobby of Parliament in October 2001.

(viii)     Writing to the Vice-Chancellor of UL and the provosts of all constituent colleges to ask for their help in this matter.

(ix)     Any other measures that the working party deems necessary.

 

(b) Keeping constituent unions informed of the progress of the working party.

(c)                  Meeting regularly to ensure as much as this as possible in place by late September 2001.

 

3.      To have the following on the working party ;

 

(i)       The ULU President, VP [Welfare & Student Activities] and VP [Finance and Societies].

(ii)      The ULU President elect, VP [Welfare & Student Activities-elect] and VP [Finance and Societies-elect] (until 31/7/2001 when they take up full office)

(iii)      6 other members elected by and from ULU Council. 

 

4.      That the working party will be generally informal but be chaired by the President who will be responsible for keeping Council informed, and VP F&S will be Secretary.

5.      To review this policy in November 2001.

 

PASSED:  19^TH March 2001