Autumn statement - more students welcome, but government needs a sustainable long-term strategy say UCU

The union warned that using the sale of the student loan book to fund more student places, while encouraging more students to take on debt through a loan scheme that's widely recognised to entail huge public costs, looked like an unsustainable, short-term fix designed to create good headlines.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said:

'Using the proceeds from the privatisation of student loans to pay for extra student places is a classic example of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

'While expanding student numbers is vital to our country's social and economic future, what universities need is a long-term, sustainable plan built on the kind of public investment that our global rivals take for granted.'