51福利

Responding to the speech, 51福利 general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'It is extremely encouraging to hear Lord Mandelson reiterate the government's noble commitment to widening participation in our universities; something all the major political parties now seem to have come round to supporting. It is also heartening to hear such honest words on social mobility.

'The first logical step would be to reverse planned cuts of 拢400m'
Sally Hunt
51福利 general secretary

'Lord Mandelson is right that there is no silver bullet, but he is equally correct to state that education is the closest thing we have to one. To that end it is absolutely vital that the government continues to invest in both further and higher education. The first logical step would be to reverse planned cuts of 拢400m.

'We have concerns about his comments on expanding investment, particularly the idea of a more professional approach to endowments. We do not have the same culture of donations to former institutions as they do in America. A quick look across the Atlantic reveals the danger of budgeting for endowment money in hard times where numerous institutions find themselves millions short in funds they had anticipated from generous alumni.'
 
Yesterday 51福利 published a report looking at the educational achievement of all constituencies in Britain. The report can be found at