MANCHESTER University vice chancellor Martin Harris wants grants to be brought back to ease the student debt crisis.

Since the abolition of the means-tested grant in 1997, student debt has shot up, with many young graduates facing debts of up to £15,000.

Prof Harris told a meeting of politicians and students that the grants should be reintroduced by the government to ensure that a university education was attractive to all, regardless of family income.

His speech came as the Welsh Assembly decided to reintroduce grants, at a cost of £40m. Scotland has already brought back grants and scrapped up-front tuition fees.

Tony Blair is also reported to be on the verge of restoring grants for poorer students in England, but all graduates could be required to pay tax for up to 25 years after leaving university until tuition fees were repaid, even if they had not received a grant.

Prof Harris's comments will please members of the University of Manchester Union, which has organised a debate on ''What is the solution to student funding?''

Fees burden

But they fall short of endorsing pleas for the abolition of tuition fees, which cost under-graduate students more than £1,000 a year.

Prof Harris wants to ensure university courses are attractive to students from less affluent backgrounds while ensuring that the higher education sector is adequately funded.

He accepts that some poorer students may be deterred from applying for a place because of the lack of grants, but he points out that they are already exempt from tuition fees.

He told the Manchester Evening News: ''My first priority would be to re-establish the maintenance grant to support poorer students. The abolition of tuition fees is very much a second-order question.

''I think we should have fees charged to those whose income justifies it. It might mean higher fees for the well-off, but that should be determined nationally.''

Next week up to 200 students from the university's student union are to join a national demonstration in London calling for a government review of student funding.

Caroline Sexton, communication officer for the university's student union, said: ''We're using this day as a way of getting the message out to the public and the government. The message is simple - grants not fees.''

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