To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision to withdraw funding from institutions for equivalent or lower qualifications students in the part-time educational sector. (164263)

We have asked the Funding Council to reduce funding for equivalent level qualifications by £100 million by 2010-11. The council is consulting on the how to implement this policy. The entire £100 million sum will be recycled within the higher education sector. Much of it will be available to support part-time provision for those already in the workplace who do not yet have a higher education qualification.