Derek McDowell (Labour)

——that this is a positive measure even though it is a back-handed acknowledgement of our failure to date to address this issue. That decision also raises an issue worthy of debate in this House, namely, the funding of universities in general as it clearly will have implications in that regard. There have been indications in recent years that some of the colleges have moved to increase their intake of overseas students simply because they are more profitable in terms of tuition fees. There are clear implications for all the universities, including Trinity College, if the Government does not get to grips with this issue and set out a funding mechanism for the years ahead. That issue is worthy of discussion in this House.