duration of their courses and there has recently been an announcement by the Government that those applying for a place at an English university in the 2017-18 academic year will also be eligible for student loans and grants for the duration of their course . However , since the Brexit process is likely to take at least two years , students could face changes to fees and funding during their courses , which may discourage them from applying to UK universities . To add to the uncertainty , the Higher Education and Research Bill , which focuses on , “ making it easier for new , high quality universities to set up ”, has been subject to much criticism from education providers who are worried about the impact of further marketisation on the quality of our universities and colleges . Many argue that encouraging competition with more private , forprofit providers and raising tuition fees will not drive up quality but will deliver worse outcomes and value for students , employers and taxpayers . We started our tour in the Members ’ Lobby , the meeting place of MPs . The Lobby houses the Members ’ Letterboard which consists of 650 slots , colour coded according to political party .
The arch leading into the Chamber itself is known as the Churchill Arch . Winston Churchill suggested that the arch be rebuilt from the original bomb-scarred stone as a reminder to future generations of the fortitude of those who stood firm through those times . The archway is flanked by statues of David Lloyd George and of Churchill himself , the prime ministers of Britain during the First and Second World Wars respectively . One foot on each statue has been burnished bright by the hands of MPs , who touch
them for luck as they enter or exit the Chamber . Opposite Churchill stands the statue of Baroness Margaret Thatcher , the first person to be so honoured by the House whilst still living .
As we walked along one of the numerous corridors , we passed cupboards brimming with the green volumesof
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