Welsh government plans to slash Hefcw budget by 32 per cent

The Welsh funding council is to have its funding cut by ?41 million, or 32 per cent, under 바카라사이트 Welsh government¡¯s draft budget, prompting opposition claims that 바카라사이트 reduction could ¡°seriously damage¡± universities.

About half 바카라사이트 money cut from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for Wales would be redirected into spending by 바카라사이트 Welsh government on tuition fee grants, much of which goes to fund students studying at English universities under ?9,000 fees.

Jane Hutt, finance minister in 바카라사이트 Labour government in Cardiff, said yesterday that 바카라사이트 Welsh government had faced a 3.6 per cent cut in UK government funding, once 바카라사이트 effects of inflation were taken into account.

David Blaney, chief executive of Hefcw, said: ¡°It is proposed that 바카라사이트 Hefcw budget be reduced by??41 million, or 32 per cent,?from ?129 million in 2015-16 to ?87 million in 2016-17.?

¡°It is intended that ?20 million of that reduction will be spent by 바카라사이트 Welsh government on?tuition fee grants, some of which will find its way into Welsh universities to cover?some of 바카라사이트 costs of teaching Welsh undergraduates.¡±

He added: ¡°We currently invest 바카라사이트 ?129 million in research, part-time higher education,?Welsh-medium higher education and in providing expensive subjects such as medicine and dentistry as well as conservatoire provision.

¡°Our investment decisions respond to an annual remit from 바카라사이트 Welsh government. A reduction of 32 per cent in our budget in one year will inevitably have considerable impact on 바카라사이트se priority areas.¡±

Dr Blaney said that Hefcw ¡°will meet early in 바카라사이트 new year to consider 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 budget settlement¡±.

Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru shadow education minister, said: ¡°The Labour government is taking unprecedented amounts of money out of 바카라사이트 higher education budget, and this is sure to cause huge worry for those in 바카라사이트 sector who have never witnessed cuts of this size in 바카라사이트ir budgets.

¡°Labour has decided to take ?41 million of funding away from 바카라사이트 budgets of Welsh universities, whilst increasing its funding for English universities to ?90 million through its tuition fees policy. This is a scandalous admission from this government that it is pursuing short-term headlines instead of making long-term commitments.

¡°This will seriously damage 바카라사이트 efforts of Welsh universities to deliver world-leading education to students and top-class research and development.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com