ST IVES MP Andrew George today urged his constituents to contact him to help him heap pressure against Government plans for student 'top-up fees' in the run-up to a critical Commons vote, due to take place on January 27.

Mr George is asking constituents to sign the Liberal Democrat petition against tuition fees by writing to his office to receive a form or by going online to www.scraptuitionfees.com.

He and his Liberal Democrat colleagues will be voting against proposals which it is estimated would leave graduates with a debt of around £30,000 at the end of their studies.

In December last year, Mr George met delegations of Cornish students from the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter, as students from around the country travelled to Westminster to protest at the introduction of higher fees.

And in March 2003, Mr George and his Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues launched the Fee-Free Cornwall campaign at Truro College.

Mr George said: 'I would ask anyone, whether they are a concerned parent or a student, wanting to support our campaign to scrap tuition fees to go to sign the petition on our website at www.scraptuitionfees.com, or write to me to request a form, to show the Government their plans are simply unacceptable.

'Given the level of support for our proposals, even on Labour backbenches, I believe that this is a campaign we have a real chance of winning - so let's turn up the temperature.

'Like so many people in my constituency, I am very concerned about proposals to raise higher tuition fees. The so-called "concessions" proposed by the Government in an effort to get their Bill through would still leave students with debts of around £24,000 which would take the average student 14 years to pay off.

'Although the infrastructure for higher education in Cornwall is improving, a disproportionate number of Cornish students still have to leave home if they are to study the course they want. With those increased living costs they will not be able to avoid racking up very large debts under the Government's proposals.

'Combined with the very high house prices which mean many young people are finding themselves in tremendous debt just to own their own home, the Government are creating a debt-ridden generation in Cornwall.

'Universities are right to demand more money but that should come out of general taxation and then only from the super-rich. After all, 82% of those earning over £100,000 are graduates.

'Higher education benefits the country as a whole and should be available to everyone who has the qualifications to go, rather than becoming the preserve of those who can afford to pay the fees.

'Above all debts will discourage many of our youngsters from ever attending university. It also adds pressure to parents who want to help their children go to college but, like so many in Cornwall, just don't have that kind of money.'

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