Jo Johnson: Treasury view of value for money is ‘flawed’

Former universities minister criticises Treasury over higher education funding and lifelong learning

Former universities minister Jo Johnson has said the Treasury holds a “flawed concept of value for money” when it comes to higher education, as he accused it of “blocking the way” to lifelong learning.

Johnson, who served as universities and science minister twice between 2015 and 2019, warned that the Treasury was “eager for savings from higher education” in the spending review coming this autumn, and he claimed that the department “persists with its flawed concept of value for money, crassly based on how much students repay of their loans”.