This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Further and Higher Education Bill
20/01/2005
MSPs today heard an explanation of the key principles
underpinning the Executive's Further and Higher Education
(Scotland) Bill, which aims to help maximise record
investment in the sectors.
A new merged funding council for both further and higher
education will help get best value from record spending on
the sectors - set to top £1.6 billion by 2007/08.
Speaking during the Stage one debate on the Bill,
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Jim Wallace
said:
"The Bill recognises the valuable role our colleges and
higher education institutions play in contributing to
Scotland's social, cultural and economic needs.
"Through merger, we will create a single body which will
take a coherent overview of both sectors, in the decades
ahead.
"I welcome the report produced by the Enterprise and
Culture Committee on the Bill, and I intend to take on
board the majority of their recommendations. I recognise
that there are a number of concerns and I am keen to
address these.
"I would like to make my intentions clear. The new
powers in the Bill which will allow Parliament to approve
different fee levels for certain subjects in situations
where Scottish-domiciled students would be disadvantaged,
are designed to be used sparingly. And only where there is
clear evidence that not acting would disadvantage Scottish
students.
"However, I fully understand the concerns which have
been raised about the potential for a future abuse of this
power. For this reason, we are currently working to draft
amendments which will offer more protection on the face of
the legislation. This includes a statutory duty to consult
fully before raising the fee level, or setting a separate
fee for any course such as medicine. And Parliament itself
will still have the last word.
"As I have made clear, the intent of this power is to
allow the Executive to take action where necessary, and
only where necessary, to protect the interests of Scottish
domiciled students."
Plans to raise the level of tuition fees and proposals
to introduce a separate, flat-rate fee for medical students
are designed to protect the interests of Scottish students
and the NHS in Scotland, in the light of the introduction
of top-up fees in England.
On the specific issue of a higher fee for medicine, Mr
Wallace said:
"We have sought views on, and considered, a wide range
of options. We will publish all of the responses received
in the near future.
"In keeping with the the spirit of the protections we
are planning to put in the Bill, I will consult fully over
the next few months on the new level for tuition fees and
on whether to set a higher again fee for medicine. I
intend to make an announcement on the way forward before
the summer recess."
Mr Wallace continued:
"Whilst I cannot anticipate whether there may be
pressures on any other courses, other than medicine in the
future, I can say categorically that we currently have no
plans to extend this power to any other subjects.
"However, we must retain the right balance of
accountability which will allow us to act to protect the
interests of Scottish students, and also offer sufficient
protection to ensure that the powers in the Bill cannot be
abused in the future."