7 FEBRUARY 2004, Page 26

An inducement to learn

From Andrew Walters Sir: Freddie Sayers has missed two key differences between the UK and the US when it comes to expecting undergraduates to pay their own way through higher education ('Fee choice', 31 January). Firstly, graduate salaries are far higher in the US — casual observation suggests two to three times, in a country where the cost of living is generally about two thirds that of the UK — and, secondly, taxation rates for higher earners are vastly lower than in the UK.

Perhaps if Tony Blair were to offer to cut the top rate of income tax from 40 per cent to 30 per cent in return for youngsters paying their own way through university, he might get some takers. But this is not the deal.

Andrew Walters

Petersfield, Hampshire