§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he has made to the final report from the Funding Options Review
679WGroup of Universities UK, with particular reference to their calculation of the funding requirements for higher education. [155164]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The Government have welcomed the report from the Funding Options Review Group of Universities UK as a helpful contribution to the debate about the funding of higher education. The Government are increasing funding to universities and higher education colleges in England by £1.7 billion over the six years to 2003–04; funding per full-time equivalent student will increase in real terms in 2001–02 for the first time in over a decade. The funding shortfall identified in the Universities UK report is for 2003–04. The Government will address the funding needs of the sector from 2003–04 in the next Spending Review.