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* A key Northern Ireland assembly committee is split over how far the Cubie committee's proposals for student finance should apply in the province.

The higher and further education, training and employment committee was due to finalise its proposals this week and seemed set to adopt the broad principles of the report by Andrew Cubie (pictured above).

But it has unexpectedly adjourned for a week, beset by the spectre of a minority report alongside the main one. Committee chairman Esmond Birnie said it was imperative to form a view quickly, because ministerial budgets were being laid down.