§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about financial provision for further and higher education in Wales in 1994–95.
§ Mr. RedwoodI intend to make £144.403 million recurrent and £15.615 million capital grant in aid available to the Further Education Funding Council for Wales in 1994–95. This is an increase of 11.2 per cent. over provision in 1993–94. Grant in aid to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales will be £199-973 million recurrent and £22.840 million capital. Total recurrent resources for the HE sector in Wales will be 6.7 per cent. higher than in 1993–94 and capital resources 6.1 per cent. higher.
These increases in resources will enable the universities and colleges to provide places for substantially higher number of students than the record levels achieved this year, while maintaining the quality of course provision.
I am placing in the Library of the House copies of letters which are being sent today to the chief executive of the funding councils.