The Scottish Government

Pullar House 35 Kinnoull Street

Perth PH15GD

Tel (01738) 476200 Fax (01738) 47621 0

Contact Ian Mason, Lead Officer,

Improvement Service s

Direct Dial (01738) 476214

Our ref IM/CL C

Date 26 January 2006

Draft Student Fee (Specification) (Scotland) Consultation Paper Response of Perth and Kinross Council Education and Children's Services

Option 3

Implement the proposed increase in fees

We would support this option because:

• The increase is in line with inflation (for example 2 .1 % for FE)
• It would not disadvantage our Scottish students
• It would still give a competitive edge to our FE / HE places within the UK market-place
• The long term strategy of Option 3 supports a fee waiver for disadvantaged families
• Scottish students would still be supported in courses undertaken elsewhere in the UK
• It would encourage Scottish students to study in Scotland as opposed to elsewhere in the UK
• Statistics show that students who study in Scotland are more likely to take up employment in Scotland
• This will affect new cohorts only
• Fees set by legislation are preferable to conditions of grant between the
• Funding Councils (SFC, SHEFC ) and the institution s
• The higher fees for medical courses reflects the length of medical courses which are the same as those in other parts of the U K
• The present number of student places is capped by the funding councils and if fees were to remain lower than in other parts of the UK then the demand would displace Scottish Students.