Leading Article: The cruellest cut

Criticism continues to mount over the Government's decision to cut funding for those studying for a second undergraduate degree. Today, the select committee for innovation, universities, science and skills joins the fray with a report that shows the decision is premature and is not based on hard evidence.

MPs are right to draw attention to the hasty introduction of the change. Universities will start to suffer cuts from autumn of this year. Why couldn't ministers have waited until the big review of tuition fees in 2009 to introduce a change that will hit part-time students and the universities that cater for them?