¡°Extremely concerning¡± reports about alleged financial misconduct at the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Greater Manchester have been passed to the sector regulator, according to an education minister.

The institution ¨C which recently rebranded from its former 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Bolton moniker ¨C has been the subject of reporting surrounding its use of public funds and relationships with external businesses.

Neil O¡¯Brien, the Conservative shadow education minister, raised the case during a debate about the?coming tuition fee rise?in the House of Commons on 24 February.

¡°Speaking of value for money, one university that will benefit from these regulations is the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Greater Manchester,¡± O¡¯Brien said.

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The minister ¡°will have seen the extremely concerning reports in the press, particularly?The Manchester Mill, about the attempts to pay huge sums of what is effectively taxpayers¡¯ money to relatives of the university¡¯s managers¡±, said O'Brien, who also referenced the involvement of a company based in Casablanca, Morocco.

¡°Can the minister assure me that he is investigating those concerning allegations?¡±, he asked.?

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Responding on behalf of the government, Stephen Morgan, a minister in the Department for Education, said the matter was ¡°for the university, but we understand that the Office for Students ¨C the independent regulator for HE in England ¨C has been notified of this case¡±.

¡°The university is conducting its own investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this stage,¡± he added.

The 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Greater Manchester confirmed in a statement that an ¡°independent investigation?was under way into this matter and until we have the outcome of that investigation, we are making no further comment¡±.

¡°We have repeatedly asked that The Mill share whatever evidence they have to assist with that investigation but, to date, they have not done so.¡±

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The OfS did not respond to requests for comment about its involvement.

Bolton¡¯s name change ¨C widely seen as a move to attract more international students ¨C proved controversial before it was?approved by the regulator late last year.

Neighbouring institutions including the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester?objected?on the grounds that the proposed name would be confusing for prospective students.

The institution is already subject to ¡°enhanced monitoring¡± by the OfS because of?concerns about the quality of some aspects of its business and management courses.

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tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com