Welsh net extra £8m

Welsh higher education institutions will be awarded an extra £8 million over the next two years after opposition leaders this week forced the Assembly to revise its budget.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales will receive an additional £2 million for 2006-07 and £3 million the following year to allocate to institutions as a "gesture" from the Assembly to help address a funding gap with England.

An additional £3 million will be deployed for the Assembly's Aiming Higher agenda, which includes support for mergers and strategic collaboration between institutions.