Harriett Baldwin today expressed regret that all of Worcestershire's higher education projects failed to win Learning and Skills Council capital funding. The projects affected are:

• Sladen (£15m was ready for final agreement)
• Worcester 6th Form College (about £15-20m, still in planning stage)
• Evesham and Malvern Hills College (ambitious plans in the early planning stage)
• New College, Redditch (£200k).

Harriett Baldwin said, "I am familiar with the plans for improvement at both Evesham and Malvern Hills College and the Worcester Sixth Form College. Many local residents benefit from these facilities. I am sorry that these schemes failed to win capital funding as investment in education and higher education is essential for Britain's economic recovery."