University funding reforms “may not save public money”

The Liberal Democrat Higher Education spokesperson in the Lords, Lady Sharp, has told the Guardian she is not certain to vote for the government in the vote in the Lords today. She is quoted as saying that the government’s proposals may not save any public money, which “makes me question whether the whole exercise is worthwhile”.

The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has repeatedly warned that the changes may not lead to net savings and has described the government’s claims to the contrary as “smoke and mirrors”. The same point was made in a letter to the Telegraph two weeks ago by senior academics calling on the government not to rush through such radical changes without proper debate and consultation. The Guardian’s story on Lady Sharp is here.