As far as I can see this has nothing to do with the CAA.
If you want the CAA to start taking on the work of Trading Standards Departments then the CAA's costs and therefore charges are going to rise.
If a price is quoted as "prices do not include vat" then I don't see that is a hidden charge. A hidden charge would be to avoid telling you that you have to pay for something that might not occur to you as a new student. Perhaps landing fees, or club membership fees.