Time for SNP to come off the fence on Higher Education funding

Alex Salmond's own Council of Economic Advisers has recommended a 'deferred payment' method for the cost of higher education [recommendation 15 on p.4 of today's report].

At the same time, all Mike Russell is prepared to do is sit on the fence and say he thinks the state should continue pay for higher education without explaining how he could fund this.

Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, said:

"I welcome the Council of Economic Advisers' call for a 'deferred payment'- a call which echoes the views of many senior experts in higher education, including Sir Andrew Cubie.

"The state simply cannot afford to take the burden for higher education if we are to find an additional source of income which will allow us to achieve all three objectives of raising academic standards, increasing support for poorer students and maintaining international competitiveness.

"Yesterday, the UK Government took a huge step forward in ensuring that English universities will now have a long-term sustainable future. A graduate contribution is the fairest way of achieving this sustainability and that is why the Scottish Conservatives have ruled out a graduate tax and up-front tuition fees.

"After four years of dithering, the SNP finally needs to tell us what policy it will adopt in Scotland. Higher education institutions in Scotland are crying out for the Scottish Government to show leadership and the vote at Westminster just makes the need for action even more urgent. It would be unforgiveable if Scotland got left behind."

1) Scottish Conservatives reject up-front fees, and we reject a pure graduate tax. We accept there is going to have to be a graduate contribution, repayable from future earnings and at an affordable rate.

2) Scottish Conservatives have been arguing since 2007 that there is an urgent need to have a fully comprehensive and independent review into the future funding of Higher Education. This should involve all stakeholder groups who have an interest in the sustainable future of our Higher Education institutions and the contribution they make to society and the economy.

This call has since been backed by Sir Andrew Cubie, Professor James Mitchell and Lord Sutherland.

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