Here is a good article taken from The Scotsman dealing with the Scottish treatment of English students.
MPs look to changing law in bid to scupper SNP's tuition fees plan
Published by The Scotsman on 4 July 2011 by Scott MacNab
Published by The Scotsman on 4 July 2011 by Scott MacNab
SNP plans to charge English and Welsh students up to £36,000 for a degree in Scotland - while Scottish students go free - could be derailed by equality legislation at Westminster.
Conservative MPs have branded the fees proposals "unfair discrimination" and are now considering how to amend the law to stop them, to ensure equal access for non-Scottish UK students, including those from Northern Ireland who would also be hit.
Other European students will pay nothing in Scotland, under EU rules preventing charges applying to students from another member state - although the SNP wants to change this.
The Scottish Government has described the Westminster move as "silly and invalid", and attacked the coalition over its recent decision to increase tuition fees to £9,000 a year.
The changes would bring fees for non-Scottish UK students into line with those charged by institutions in England after the increase.
Last week, education secretary Michael Russell outlined the proposals in the Scottish Parliament as he set out plans to allow universities to set their own fees for other UK students from the academic year 2012-3.
But Graham Stuart, Tory chairman of the Commons education select committee, said he is to consider a change to equalities legislation.
"It is well worth exploring whether equality law could be amended or used as it stands to build a case," he said.
"As we have devolution, it is important that all members of this UK have a guarantee they will be treated fairly by any of the administrations.
"If it (equality legislation] can be used to stop unfair discrimination against UK citizens in gaining fair access on fair terms to universities in Scotland, then I would fully support that."
Former Scottish secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said that the SNP plans were "grossly unfair" and "ought to be rectified".
The Scottish Government wants to bring in primary legislation capping the amount at a maximum of £9,000 a year from 2013-4, but universities are to voluntarily comply with the cap until such laws can be put in place.
The Scottish Government has described the Westminster move as "silly and invalid", and attacked the coalition over its recent decision to increase tuition fees to £9,000 a year.
The changes would bring fees for non-Scottish UK students into line with those charged by institutions in England after the increase.
Last week, education secretary Michael Russell outlined the proposals in the Scottish Parliament as he set out plans to allow universities to set their own fees for other UK students from the academic year 2012-3.
But Graham Stuart, Tory chairman of the Commons education select committee, said he is to consider a change to equalities legislation.
"It is well worth exploring whether equality law could be amended or used as it stands to build a case," he said.
"As we have devolution, it is important that all members of this UK have a guarantee they will be treated fairly by any of the administrations.
"If it (equality legislation] can be used to stop unfair discrimination against UK citizens in gaining fair access on fair terms to universities in Scotland, then I would fully support that."
Former Scottish secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said that the SNP plans were "grossly unfair" and "ought to be rectified".
The Scottish Government wants to bring in primary legislation capping the amount at a maximum of £9,000 a year from 2013-4, but universities are to voluntarily comply with the cap until such laws can be put in place.
A spokesman for Mr Russell said: "This is an extremely silly and invalid response.
"The only unfairness to English students has been the imposition of ever higher tuition fees by successive Westminster governments, and the rocks will melt with the sun before we go down the same road for Scottish students.
"It is high time that Westminster politicians stopped carping about Scotland and started re-thinking their own damaging decisions for England.
"The reason the previous Labour/Liberal Democrat administration applied tuition fees to students from the rest of the UK was because the then Labour government at Westminster brought in fees south of the Border - and the reason we have announced a consultation about increasing them is because the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has hiked them in England."
The spokesman added: "We have to act to ensure that Scotland remains the best option, not the cheapest option, for higher education, and that university places for Scottish students are protected.
"The Scottish Government has also held productive discussions with the European Commission about proposals to levy management fees on EU students."
Announcing the move, Mr Russell said the decision could see fees range from £1,800 to £9,000 per year, with a possible average of £6,375.
"The only unfairness to English students has been the imposition of ever higher tuition fees by successive Westminster governments, and the rocks will melt with the sun before we go down the same road for Scottish students.
"It is high time that Westminster politicians stopped carping about Scotland and started re-thinking their own damaging decisions for England.
"The reason the previous Labour/Liberal Democrat administration applied tuition fees to students from the rest of the UK was because the then Labour government at Westminster brought in fees south of the Border - and the reason we have announced a consultation about increasing them is because the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has hiked them in England."
The spokesman added: "We have to act to ensure that Scotland remains the best option, not the cheapest option, for higher education, and that university places for Scottish students are protected.
"The Scottish Government has also held productive discussions with the European Commission about proposals to levy management fees on EU students."
Announcing the move, Mr Russell said the decision could see fees range from £1,800 to £9,000 per year, with a possible average of £6,375.
If the LibLabCon didnt take us down this road we would be having this discussion.
ReplyDeleteWould we?
The SNP are right on this one.