The president of Birkbeck, University of London, says higher fees and a failure to communicate new rights to government loans for part-time students has led to a 40% drop in England.

BBC: Joan Bakewell urges action on part-time students

Prof Annette Karmiloff-Smith, of Birkbeck, University of London, said that rather than focusing on the possible adverse effects of TV and video games, it would be better to look at what positive impact they could have on children.

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Birkbeck, University of London, specialises in part-time higher education courses and says it has seen a fall in applications which mirrors the national picture.

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According to Ian Crawford, a planetary scientist at Birkbeck, University of London, the moon is the best place to look to find more evidence.

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Prof Grayling is a professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford.

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"There would be a long way to go before these fads could be said to be anything more than just fads, " says Dr Helen Barrett, developmental psychologist and research fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London.

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Lady Bakewell says she intends to use her new role at Birkbeck - which specialises in evening and part-time courses and is part of the University of London - to exert pressure on government to support part-time higher education.

BBC: Joan Bakewell urges action on part-time students