Coy Mowlam

The Department of Education for Northern Ireland last week produced a draft press release on the further and higher education initiative at Springvale, Belfast highlighting a government contribution of up to Pounds 40 million of the Pounds 70 million cost. But the figures had gone from the final press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office.

Instead, Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam was quoted as saying that Ulster University and the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education had indicated that they could potentially contribute Pounds 20 million, and urging them to look to the United States for help with the remaining Pounds 10 million. Reluctance to emphasise government generosity is presumably on the basis that if it is seen handing out money, everyone will want some.