"Delivering a world class education system that enables individuals to achieve their full potential remains my government's main priority for Britain's future success. Educational reform will continue to raise standards in all schools.

"A Bill will be introduced to enable more young people to benefit from higher education. Upfront tuition fees will be abolished for all full-time students and a new Office For Fair Access will assist those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Universities will be placed on a sound financial footing."

The Higher Education Bill will see fees of up to £3000 a year imposed on university students from 2006, payable after graduation through tax proportional to earnings.

Higher education minister and former trade union negotiator Alan Johnson has been charged with steering the Bill through the Commons.

The path to legislation began in the form of the Future of Higher Education white paper published earlier this year, which set out the government's plans for radical reform and investment in universities and higher education colleges. The paper included proposals for changes in the student finance system and plans for making higher education more accessible to more young people.

The government then published 'Widening participation in higher education' for consultation in April 2003, which set out the government's proposals for the creation and remit of the Office for Fair Access. The Education and Skills Select Committee published its report on the white paper in June 2003, and the government duly gave its response to this report in July 2003.

The Liberal Democrats are expected to vote against the Bill, and Conservative party leader Michael Howard has dismissed rumours that his party is about to perform a u-turn on opposing the policy, after newly-appointed health and education secretary Tim Yeo refused to comment in a recent BBC interview.

House of Commons

First reading: January 8 2004 (HC Bill 35)

Second reading: January 27 2004

Committee Stage

• 1st sitting: February 10 2004 (am)
• 2nd sitting: February 10 2004 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: February 12 2004 (am)
• 4th sitting: February 12 2004 (pm)
• 5th sitting: February 24 2004 (am)
• 6th sitting: February 24 2004 (pm)
• 7th sitting: February 26 2004 (am)
• 8th sitting: February 26 2004 (pm)
• 9th sitting: March 2 2004 (am)
• 10th sitting: March 2 2004 (pm)
• 11th sitting: March 4 2004 (am)
• 12th sitting: March 4 2004 (pm)
• 13th sitting: March 9 2004 (am)
• 14th sitting: March 9 2004 (pm) (part 1)
• 15th sitting: March 9 2004 (pm) (part 2)

Bill as amended in the committee: (HC Bill 67)

Remaining stages: March 31 2004

House of Lords

First reading: April 1 2004 (HL Bill 56)

Second reading: April 19 2004 (part 1)
                       April 19 2004 (part 2)

Commitee stage

• 1st day: May 10 2004 (part 1)
              May 10 2004 (part 2)
              May 10 2004 (part 3)
• 2nd day: May 13 2004 (part 1)
               May 13 2004 (part 2)
• 3rd day: May 17 2004 (part 1)
              May 17 2004 (part 2)
• 4th day: May 25 2004

Bill as amended in the committee (HL Bill 78)

Report stage: June 8 2004 (part 1)
                    June 8 2004 (part 2)
                    June 14 2004 (part 1)
                    June 14 2004 (part 2)
                    June 14 2004 (part 3)

Bill as amended on report (HL Bill 86)

Third reading: June 22 2004

House of Commons:

Lords amendments being considered: June 23 2004

House of Lords:

Commons amendments being considered: July 1 2004

Received royal assent on July 1 2004

Higher Education Act 2004