Pre-election spending promises for education

Signs that the government may be planning to plough more money into health and education after the next general election have been welcomed by universities and colleges. The higher and further education sectors could benefit as they did in the comprehensive spending review, which provided Pounds 776 million for universities and Pounds 725 million more for colleges between 1999 and 2001 from fees and the public purse. It is understood that the government may commit itself to future additional spending as part of its campaign for the next general election in either 2001 or 2002.