Commenting on the announcement of changes to Welsh Higher Education funding, Shadow Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Paul Davies AM, said:

"It has become increasingly clear that the current funding arrangements for Welsh Higher Education Institutions are unsustainable.

"The policy of no top-up fees, which the Welsh Conservatives have supported for many years, has resulted in increased economic activity in Wales' university towns and cities.

"The challenge now is to ensure we can improve the competitiveness of Wales' Higher Education Institutions and at the same time narrow the funding gap which has widened between Welsh institutions and those in other nations of the UK.

"Welsh Conservatives believe that reforms to student funding must ensure that students from less well-off backgrounds have equality of opportunity in seeking a university education.

"For an economically successful Wales, we need a vibrant and healthy Higher Education sector."