WELSH Conservatives have expressed concerns about the rising number of students seeking government funded financial help to get through university. 
 
The number of applicants for Financial Contingency Funds (FCGs) for higher education rose by 18% last year, resulting in £6.2mn being awarded to students.

That's a 29% rise in the amount given out the year before.

Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies said:

"It is worrying to see how many more applicants there were for the funds last year.

"The current economic situation will be largely responsible for this.

"With the recession a great deal deeper now and forecast to go on for some time yet, the numbers of students who will need financial help to pay their way through university can only rise."