Leading article: You do the sums

A report published today underlines the growing importance of the higher education sector to the general economic well-being of the country. The report, by Universities UK - the body that represents all university vice-chancellors - shows that our higher education institutions are now generating an income of £16.87bn a year and are responsible for creating about 600,000 jobs. That is enough, we hope, to ensure that higher education does not end up on the back burner as far as government priorities are concerned while the debate on the current schools legislation rages on in Parliament.