The Universities Minister faced a torrent of criticism when he suggested that students could find themselves cut-price degrees at the last minute, as universities charging the new maximum fee of £9,000 would slash prices to fill any vacant places. The chair of a group of student unions attacked the proposal saying: 'If a student qualifies for a place, they will pay one amount, while someone who fails but then gets an unfilled place at the end will somehow pay less. Clearly this turns justice on its head.'