THE Prime Minister sets great store by promoting the notion of opportunity for the many, not just the few.

Indeed, it remained the central theme of the domestic agenda he addressed in his conference speech on Tuesday.

In the field of higher education, however, he has failed to stick to his principle of equal opportunity.

On the one hand, the Government has put more university places than ever on offer, and there is no shortage of words of encouragement from ministers for students to fill these places. But, on the other, to finance this expansion, the Government has introduced a funding system which is blatantly discriminatory.

There is no doubt that the fear of student debt is an issue with many low-income families, and effectively bars them from access to higher education.

At long last we have heard recognition of these concerns. Firstly, from Mr Blair on Tuesday and, yesterday, from Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

The introduction of tuition fees is the most unpopular policy of Labour's four years in office.

It runs counter to the party's avowed aim to get more children from less-privileged backgrounds into higher education. The question has to be asked: if Scotland can find the means to scrap fees, then why can't the rest of the United Kingdom?

The review of student contributions is long overdue.

The average debt facing students at the end of three years at university is £6,000.

While that figure may not be alarming to some families, to many it represents a burden they are unable to contemplate.

The Government needs seriously to consider whether access to higher education should be viewed as an inalienable right, meaning that tuition fees should be scrapped.

It needs also to examine the wisdom of replacing means-tested grants by student loans.

There will be considerable extra costs involved in such reforms, but the Government has come to terms with the fact that the provision of opportunity for many, and not just the few, does not come cheap.

High principles have a high price.