HC Deb 01 December 1987 vol 123 c529W
42. Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the criteria used by the University Grants Committee in its funding plans for Aberdeen university.

Mr. Jackson

In 1986–87, the University Grants Committee introduced a new method for allocating recurrent grant. This applies the same criteria to all universities, wherever they are located, and is based on standard units of resource for teaching and explicit selectivity in the funding of research. This more objective approach has led to Aberdeen university's receiving below average increases in basic grant. The university is in discussion with the UGC about the careful planning needed for the transition to the new funding levels.