Further education colleges need Pounds 48 million says Natfhe

* Further education colleges need Pounds 48 million from the government just to fund this year's pay rise, says Natfhe.

A union survey shows that unless the money is made available only a quarter of the 350 colleges responding will implement the 2.5 per cent increase recommended by the Association of Colleges. One in eight said they could not afford to pay lecturers anything extra.

Sue Berryman, Natfhe's national negotiating secretary for further education, said: "Unless money can be found for decent pay awards, colleges will be unable to recruit and retain lecturers of the calibre needed to deliver a high quality education."

Natfhe wants the Pounds 48 million included in this year's public expenditure settlement for further education.