listened to Radio 5 Live this morning on student fees. It was admitted that some students do not need the loans, they were cheapo money. So, Mum and Dad paid for education, the student invested the money in PEPs, they got degree in chemistry, did PHd took up teaching, where the government now pays off the loan, and they are laughing. This is a scandal, loans should be means tested.
As for students parents, here in Exeter the parents bought houses, jammed them full of students who paid rent, but no council tax, then when their son/daughter graduated, house was sold with no CGT, and then they pocketed the profit which together with the income from the rent left the education of the sibling free. I live in Exeter.