Commentary on the education issues raised in the pre-Budget report.

Forum Response: Association of University Teachers

Natalie Fenton, president of the Association of University Teachers, told ePolitix.com: "The statement contained a welcome commitment to boosting enterprise and encouraging further investment in research and development. The proposed new research tax credit must be directed at encouraging business to invest in university-based projects.

"Higher education is vital to both economic growth and social well-being. The chancellor has given the education sector encouraging signals about the forthcoming budget by his clear commitment to continued high levels of investment in public services."

Forum Response: Universities UK

A spokesperson for Universities UK told ePolitix.com: "Universities UK has urged the government to act to stimulate demand from business to increase their knowledge base by encouraging companies to take advantage of the supply of high quality research and expertise that exists in universities. We therefore warmly welcome the new R and D tax credit in the pre-Budget report to provide tax relief for companies that enter into collaborative research with universities"