That this House notes with extreme concern that up to 100 universities are currently planning redundancies, which amounts to two-thirds of higher education institutions cutting jobs; agrees that in a time of recession, higher education and higher level skills should be at the forefront of any plan for long term recovery, and that cutting jobs, course provision and student places is not in the interests of the economy or society; and calls on universities to work in partnership with the trades unions to provide a national plan to avoid cuts and defend provision, quality and access to higher education.