A look at how university tuition fees would increase in England and Wales under proposed changes by Prime Minister Tony Blair's government -- and the debate surrounding the bill. - 159 MPs have signed a petition against the bill, including former cabinet ministers Nick Brown, Clare Short, Frank Dobson and Barbara Roche.

- The government believes it can sway enough rebels to back the plan to win a vote Jan. 27, although the rebels are confident at least 100 Labour MPs will vote against the proposal. If all opposition MPs vote against the bill, 81 Labour backbenchers are needed to defeat the measure.

- Under Blair's proposals, universities could charge as much as 3,000 pounds ($7,040 Cdn) in tuition starting in 2006 for undergraduate courses, replacing the current 1,125 pounds ($2,640 Cdn) fee.

- Graduates would have to start repaying any student loans they take out once their income reaches $15,000 pounds ($35,500 Cdn) a year.

- Students from the poorest 30 per cent of homes would not have to pay the first 1,200 pounds ($2,850 Cdn) of their annual tuition and would also be eligible for bursaries worth at least 300 pounds ($700 Cdn) if they go to a school that charges the maximum tuition fee.