Smith: Funding gap not bridgeable without a graduate contribution

Speaking after today's Higher Education summit in Glasgow, Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, said:

"It became clear today at the summit that Scottish universities face a funding gap which could be as large as £260m depending on how high English universities set their tuition fee levels. This does not take into account the massive cut in capital funding which this SNP Government has laid on our universities, which could take the total gap up to around £300m.

"Regardless of what some would like to believe, this is not a bridgeable gap unless a graduate contribution is introduced – a point which has been made crystal clear by the work of the Universities Scotland Technical Group on Higher Education.

"If we want to continue to widen access, to maintain our international excellence in academic teaching and research, and offer financial support to the poorest students, it is imperative that we make up this shortfall in Scottish Government funding.

"The fact is, the SNP Government have been warned that action was needed on university funding over the entire session of this parliament. Scottish Conservatives first called for an independent review of Higher Education in 2007.

"We have also been making the case for the introduction of a graduate contribution for over a year. However, the SNP Government has chosen to prevaricate and avoid the difficult but necessary decisions."

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