YORK Central MP Hugh Bayley has said proposed Government cuts could cost York’s universities millions of pounds.

Figures from the independent House of Commons Library show the University of York would lose £18 million, almost two-thirds of its teaching grant, and York St John would see its entire grant of £8.7 million taken away if grants for undergraduate courses in arts and humanities subjects in 2012/13 were cut as recommended in the Browne review.

Mr Bayley said: “If the Government cuts its spending, students will end up paying more for less and our universities will slip into financial crisis.”

A spokesman for the University of York, which has an annual turnover of £250 million, said the teaching grant from the Higher Education Funding Council was only one of many sources of income. He said: “We’re anticipating a substantial reduction in this source of funding and we have been making plans to address it.

“We’re confident in our ability to retain student demand and that the shortfall in teaching grant can be replaced by increased income from the Student Loans Company through fees.”

A spokeswoman for York St John University said: “Demand for places at York St John University has grown dramatically over recent years as we have improved the quality of our provision. We will not compromise on that high quality regardless of the change in source of funding.”