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Hefce provides details of further university cuts
12 March 2010
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) has confirmed that the universities sector is facing further cuts to those already set out by the government.
An additional £135 million will be cut from the sector's budget in 2010-11, followed by a further £600 million in the after that, according to the organisation.
Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property David Lammy MP has defended the cuts, saying: "These savings come against a background of record Government investment in higher education - around 25 per cent more than 1997."
Prior to confirmation of the additional reductions, Hefce had already announced that a total of almost £449 million would be cut from the higher education sector's annual budget, which is currently £7.3 billion.
Hefce distributes public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges across England.
The organisation is also responsible for the promotion of high quality education and research through its various funding schemes.