Norwich MP to meet with Education Secretary to discuss UEA's 'financial crisis'
Clive Lewis raised the issue in the House of Commons
Last updated 28th Feb 2023
A Norfolk MP has secured a meeting with the education secretary to discuss what he calls 'the severe financial crisis engulfing the University of East Anglia'.
Norwich South's Clive Lewis raised the issue in parliament yesterday, saying the institution could be looking at "up to £45 million worth of projected debt, and 30% job losses".
In parliament, Clive Lewis said:
"Is the Secretary of a State and her Department aware of the severe financial crisis engulfing the University of East Anglia, one so severe that the Vice Chancellor has [yesterday] resigned.
"This will have a dramatic impact on the regional economy. We could be looking at up to £45 million worth of projected debt, and also 30% job losses.
"As such, will Secretary of State or Minister agree to meet with me and a delegation from the University of East Anglia to discuss these most critical issues as soon as possible."
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon MP said he would be "pleased to meet with the Hon Gentlemen, sooner rather than later".
UEA insists redundancies would be a 'last resort'.
On this issue, Clive Lewis has previously commented:
"Comparable institutions to UEA are not facing the same crisis. This blows a hole in the idea that just external issues that have caused this - the energy crisis, Covid.
It's pretty clear that there are questions for management now about how they handled this. Why is this happening at UEA, when other comparable institutions are not facing the same crisis?
There will be implications for all of us in the region if these cuts are made at UEA. For businesses, partners, and the Norwich Research Park, which is an integral part of our local economy, I think the ripple effect of this could be quite significant."