Mr. Philip Crosby:

I shall deal with the supply pipeline first, and then the institutes of technology. With regard to what is being done in respect of the national student accommodation strategy, I shall give rounded figures on completions to date. The total was 5,500, of which just short of 1,100 were public. There are 4,800 on site. Just short of 1,200 of these are public. With regard to plans approved, there are 7,900, of which 1,400 are public. These are rounded figures but we can give the detail if the committee wishes. I am referring to a published report.

Approximately 400 or 500 projects in the private sector are planned and submitted but awaiting an outcome. There are slightly more than 7,000 at pre-planning stage in the public sector, but we do not have pre-planning figures for the private sector as it is not accountable to us in that regard.

Borrowing capacity relates to an issue involving organisations which are not represented today. The borrowing capacity of public institutions may add to the Government's borrowing requirement and debt loading, which is subject to fiscal space and the fiscal rules and our post-crisis relationship with the European Union. It does not only affect institutes of technology as it also arises in the context of the creation of the new technological universities. It is under review, with one of the critical considerations being the difficulties that may be caused for the Government, the Department of Finance and so on by anything that adds to the debt figures or borrowing requirement.