The government is set for another battle with Labour backbenchers, as MPs prepare to vote again on the issue of top-up fees next Wednesday.

Leading rebel Dr Ian Gibson has tabled an amendment to the controversial Higher Education Bill, preventing universities from charging variable fees.

However, the government has insisted that this is central to their plans.

"This is not a pick-and-mix bill," the prime minister's official spokesman said yesterday.

"It stands as a whole and variability is a key component.  We won the day in January and we will continue to work hard to ensure that position holds when the bill returns."