London for top-up fees

London University is poised to signal its support for the introduction of top-up fees to Sir Ron Dearing's higher education inquiry.

Heads of London colleges are being asked to back a federal submission to the inquiry which would include views on the future of funding, and an indication that fees are inevitable in the face of the current financial squeeze.

The submission has been circulating in draft form but university insiders think it is likely to win approval. Decisions awaited the outcome of this week's CVCP meeting.