Dr. Charles Larkin:

The research will most likely be completed over the next 24 months. We have worked closely with the Department Education and Skills, HEA and IUA. We hope that part of our work becomes part of the policy discussion. We have begun discussions with people connected to the secretariat for the Cassells group. They are looking at their analysis now and the NESC work for the Cassells group will probably have to use some of the work we have done because on the issue of diversification of income, it is clear that institutions that have more diversified income have a stronger economic impact because there is less of an opportunity cost unless one is talking about areas with profoundly slack aggregate demand. The stimulation provided by a higher education institution in such areas is more a reflection of the fact that there is above average unemployment and below average economic activity than anything else. In the UK, these types of studies have begun to be used by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to bring about new campuses in locations referred to by the Minister there as economic cold spots.