The government suffered a cut majority on top-ups

Under government plans, from 2006, universities will be free to charge tuition fees of up to �3,000 a year - in place of the present fee of �1,100.

The Conservatives say such top-up fees will act as a "severe deterrent" to poorer students.

Shadow Education Spokesman Damian Green told the Commons students and their parents had been let down by the government's proposals.

"We've tried tuition fees and they failed to give a fair deal to students or universities," he said.

"Our policy of scrapping fees and making this vital part of our education system once again free for everyone does offer them that fair deal they need and deserve."

The government argues that higher tuition fees are needed to fund an expansion of universities so higher education is open to more people.

It wants 50% of young people to go to university.

The Tories say they would abandon that target and reduce the number of university places.

Mr Green said it was "not fair or compassionate" to encourage all students to go to university when it might not be right for them.

The university sector should be "better focused" and provide more vocational qualifications rather than "Mickey Mouse" degrees.

The debate follows an embarrassing vote for the government on the issue earlier this week.

The government suffered a backbench rebellion with its majority slumping to just 74 in a vote on a Liberal Democrat motion calling for the plans to be scrapped.

And more than 150 Labour MPs have signed up to early day motions opposing the changes to student finances.

The Education Secretary Charles Clarke rejected the Tories' criticism saying: "The truth of the Conservative proposals is that they mean less students, less resources for universities and less independence for universities from the state."

He said the cost to students of tuition fees should be put in perspective.