§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the additional financial problems facing universities within the London area.
Mr. JacksonThis is a matter for the Universities Funding Council and for the universities concerned.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether in its bid to his Department as part of the 1990–91 Public Expenditure Survey Committee round, the Universities Funding Council supported the case for an additional £10 million per annum for universities in London facing exceptional costs because of their locations; and whether such a sum was included in the Universities Funding Council allocation for 1990–91 and identified as such.
Mr. JacksonIn line with long-established practice, advice from the Universities Funding Council on aggregate funding levels is confidential. It is entirely for the council to allocate its share of the 1989 public expenditure settlement between universities. Parliamentary sanction would be required under the Education Reform Act 1988 before my right hon. Friend could direct the council's action in relation to a particular university.