Timely Assembly Report shows Labour-Plaid education budget for the disgrace it is - Randerson

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Oct 2009

Despite the huge contribution of Higher Education to the Welsh Economy, Labour and Plaid Cymru are cutting millions from university funding.

Commenting on the launch of the Assembly's Enterprise and Learning Committee report into the economic impact of higher education, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Education and the Economy, Jenny Randerson AM has urged the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government to rethink its savage cuts to Higher Education in this week's budget.

The Cross party committee on which Jenny Randerson sits has found that the huge potential for Higher Education Institutions to improve the Welsh Economy is not being met and calls on the Labour-Plaid Government to "prioritise investment in them accordingly." This follows Monday's draft budget which includes savage cuts of 5% for the entire Higher and Further Education Sectors.

Jenny Randerson said: "This report shows the budget for the disgrace it is. If we are going to put right the precarious position and fundamental weakness of our economy, Higher Education has a huge part to play.

"The conclusions of this report are very clear in that HE should be protected and enhanced and yet just two days ago, we had a budget that ripped millions from its budget. If this is the measure of Labour and Plaid Cymru's view of higher education, we are going to end up with second class universities and therefore continue to have a second class economy.

"As well as slashing the education budget, the Government is also cutting swathes from the Economic Development department. It is almost hard to believe that the two key drivers of economic development help for businesses and up-skilling the workforce, are being targeted in a recession.

Notes:

The Enterprise and Learning Committee's report will be released on 7.10.09. For more information on the report, contact the National Assembly's Press Office.