SPEAKING ahead of tomorrow's Assembly Government statement on tuition fees and in response to today's Higher Education Funding Council for Wales allocations to universities in Wales, Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"A thriving university sector is vital for the Welsh economy, particularly during difficult economic times such as the current recession.

"Yet year after year the Assembly Government has failed to put sufficient money into Higher Education in Wales. And year after year the funding gap with England and Scotland has widened.

"Government is about making choices and we will study the minister's proposals in full when she announces them tomorrow.

"Whatever she proposes, Welsh Conservatives are committed to ensuring that Higher Education and students are not disadvantaged and that money does not become a barrier to learning."