The Scottish Government

Ms Lindsay Conn,

Scottish Executive,

Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department,

2°d Floor, Europa Building ,

450 Argyle Street,

Glasgow, G2 8LG

Dear Ms Conn,

Consultations on the Draft Student Fees (Specification) (Scot land) Order 2005

I refer to Ms Troup's letter of 17 November . I enclose a completed Annex G .

I have one comment on the Executive Note . The paragraph on Financial Effects says that the Order has no implications for increased financial liability on the Scottish Executive or local government . The whole purpose of the Order is to increase fees and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland will pay a high proportion of these fees. There might also be increased expenditure by local education authorities in England. How can the statement about no increased financial liability be defended? The paragraph then goes on to refer to savings and again it is not clear how these would arise from an Order dealing with increases in fees .

Yours sincerely,

Alastair Weatherston

Respondent Information Form : Consultation On The Draft Student Fees (Specification) (Scotland) Order 2005

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Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to help us reach a decision on the final draft of the order to be laid before Parliament for consideration . We aim to issue a report on this consultation process by 21 March 2006.

Comments and complaints

If you have any comments about how this consultation exercise has been conducted, please send them to :

Name : Lindsay Conn

Address : Scottish Executive

Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department

2nd Floor, Europa Building

450 Argyle Street

Glasgow, G2 8LG