HC Deb 02 March 1993 vol 220 cc131-2
10. Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received about the funding of universities.

Mr. Boswell

We regularly receive representations about a range of higher education matters, including funding.

Mr. Griffiths

Why is not the Secretary of State intervening to stop institutions such as Edinburgh university and Royal Holloway and Bedford New college selling priceless art treasures by artists such as Turner and Gainsborough to balance their books? Will the Secretary of State intervene to stop universities selling off the family silver?

Mr. Boswell

I am interested in the hon. Gentleman's sense of geography. He will know that the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council will shortly take over responsibility for—[Interruption.] One at a time, please. The Universities Funding Council is responsible now; the hon. Gentleman is right in that respect. He will also know that there is a Charity Commission and an export licensing procedure under which such matters will be considered. I can also tell the hon. Gentleman that the real resources made available to the university sector are at record levels. The problems of particular institutions need to be addressed by those institutions in connection with the relevant funding councils.

Mr. John Marshall

Will my hon. Friend confirm that our system of student support is more generous than that in any other country in the western world? Will he further confirm that the reaction to student loans has been for more people to apply to go to university, not fewer, as the Opposition forecast?

Mr. Boswell

Not only is the provision for student support one of the most generous, if not the most generous, in the western world, but support for the university sector generally through the taxpayer, running at £4 billion a year, is extremely generous and contributes to excellent results.