51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Sir George Quigley, leader of the review into the "Scottish fee anomaly" has played down application figures that show Scotland has been hard hit with a 5.9 per cent fall.

Sir George said it was "too early to say" whether the fall showed that entrants from elsewhere in the country were being deterred from applying to Scottish institutions by having to pay four years' fees and maintenance.

But the committee is hoping to report to parliament before the April 1 2000 deadline, he added.

Blackstone letter, page 15