THE region’s MPs traded blows last night over “appalling” figures showing that the decline in university applications in some parts of the North-East is more than twice the national average.

According to Ucas – the body that manages applications to higher education courses – applications to date in Stockton have decreased year-on-year by 33.8 per cent and in Middlesbrough by 33.3 per cent.

This compares to a national average decrease of 15.1 per cent and in the North-East as a whole, 21.4 per cent.

Tom Blenkinsop, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said it was no coincidence that university applications were collapsing at the same time that the Government had given universities permission to treble tuition fees up to a maximum of £9,000 from next year.

The MP, together with Labour colleagues Jenny Chapman (Darlington) and Alex Cunningham (Stockton North), obtained details of the regional picture by asking written questions in Parliament.

The figures, which also showed a 29.9 per cent decrease in Hartlepool, along with a 18.7 per cent drop in Darlington, relate to applications submitted to Ucas by November 21 for courses next year.

Mr Blenkinsop said: “It is appalling that deprived areas such as Teesside are showing the sharpest falls.

“Although applications do not close until January 15, these figures are a very scary preliminary warning.

“I hope the Government has a look at how their higher education policy is affecting the aspirations of young people in places like Teesside, and reconsider the merits of tripling fees.”

Last month, Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said it was much too early to predict any effects from changes to tuition fees and said it was gearing up for a “possible late surge” close to the deadline with students taking more time to research their applications.

Universities such as Teesside University – which recently reduced its average course fee – also said it was too early to say there would be a slump in 2012 entrants.

Mrs Chapman said the figures were alarming, adding: “I hope that what the universities are saying is correct, but we do need a large dose of realism here as the statistics speak for themselves.

“One of the challenges for the North-East is that we need to improve the skills of the workforce and one of the most important ways to do that is by gaining educational qualifications.”

But Tory James Wharton, the MP for Stockton South, dismissed what he called “unhelpful”

comments from some local Labour MPs.

Mr Wharton said: “I would encourage anybody who wants to go to university to apply. Even with the tuition fees increase, people will actually pay less in any given year when they come to repaying, and the rate in which it will be taken off them is less than under the current system.”

MP Ian Swales, who represents Redcar for the Liberal Democrats, said: “This drop has to be expected because applications were much higher last year in anticipation of the funding changes.”

He added: “It is no secret that I voted against the tuition fee rise, but I am disappointed that the alternative funding plans the opposition has come up with are little better than those put forward by the Government.”