T4. Ms Egan asked the Minister for the Economy to outline when the review of higher education funding will be completed and she will present its findings and the options to the House, given that our higher education sector is in an extremely challenging financial position, with job cuts at Ulster University following redundancies at Queen's University, which has damaged morale and left the staff and students in uncertain positions. (AQT 2464/22-27)

I thank the Member for her question. Her question reflects the difficult position that we are in because the Executive have not yet been able to agree a Budget. I note the Fiscal Council's annual review that was published today, which supports the Executive's case that we are not funded in the same way as Scotland and Wales, and I hope that the Treasury takes that on board. We need to see a sustainable Budget that will allow us to invest in our public services; one that will allow me, as the Economy Minister, to invest in our universities in order to develop our local economy.

The first piece of work in the higher education funding review was the financial needs assessment, and that has been completed and published. We are developing the terms of reference for the next phase of the work. That is ongoing. We anticipate that the review will take about 18 months to complete. It is important to undertake the work to get a proper insight into the needs of our higher education sector. However, to invest in the sector in the way that we need to, we need a Budget that the Executive can work with, and, as Economy Minister, I need my fair share of it.

Thank you, Minister. The review does not seem to command the support that is required to deliver meaningful change and transformation. What engagement have you had with the universities in recent weeks to design a review process that will have support and buy-in from those who will be most affected by its outcomes?

I thank the Member for her question. As I mentioned, the first stage of the review was the financial needs assessment, which was undertaken by Higher Futures. It was an independent analysis, and we will continue to work with independent experts as we take the review forward.

It is important that we get buy-in from our higher education institutions, and I will continue to work with them. However, we also need to make sure that the review goes forward. It is important that we try to get a consensus, but it is also important to move the process on. As you would expect, I have had considerable engagement with all our higher education institutions, and I will continue to work with them to get the process moving.

Mr Burrows is not in his place.