Funding needed to cover staff pay rises

Alan Thomson reports from the Labour Party conference in Blackpool

Universities made it clear to ministers at the conference that more funding will be needed to cover any staff pay rises.

Martin Harris, chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, said that he wants to begin talking with government now to ensure that money will be available to fund any pay recommendations made by Sir Michael Bett's inquiry, which is due to report in the spring.

"One of the things that concerns me is the outcome of the Bett review and how we find the resources to meet what it recommends," Professor Harris told delegates at a Labour conference fringe meeting hosted by the Association of University Teachers and Natfhe lecturing unions.

Afterwards, Professor Harris said: "The Bett review will almost certainly need government support if it is to be implemented. We are going to need a dialogue with the government from now on."

He said that the higher education sector was also looking to the settlements for years two and three of the comprehensive spending review to resolve remaining funding concerns relating to teaching and information technology infrastructure.

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