Letter: As a graduate of 20 years ago, being in the final intake at university to study without any form of loan or fees of any kind, I am deeply concerned at the impact of crushing costs on low income families of a higher education.

It may appear to make sense that only graduates should pay for this level of education and it is clearly obvious that graduates will on average earn more money than non-graduates.

However, as with a lot in life, it is not as simple as that. The main problem our nation faces is the lack of social mobility. We give high earning, high profile jobs to a very small group of people — the upper middle and upper classes to use dated but largely accurate terms.

They get the public school education along with the trappings that come with it — connections to the better paying sectors. They will go to university whatever the costs.

As a fully maintained student in the 80s with parents of very modest means I would have been in a very difficult position as the only member of my family not to go and find “proper work” at 16. Not having a degree would have severely curtailed my life prospects and prevented me becoming an employer and tax payer.

The answer – a graduate tax. Very simple, very fair. This could even be used to catch people like myself who benefited from a free education all that time ago.

Mark Stone

Shrewsbury