Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 30 May 2017
30 May 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Higher Education Access
I thank the minister for prior sight of her statement. I also welcome the work that has been undertaken by Sir Peter Scott, by the universities themselves, by Universities Scotland and by the Scottish funding council.
I have two important questions. First, will the Scottish Government address Audit Scotland’s concerns about the overall financial sustainability of the higher education sector, and, in doing so, will the Government make available the necessary financial resources to expand the number of university places so that there is minimum displacement of better-off students, many of whom are finding it harder to get into university these days, despite having top-quality entry qualifications?
Secondly, according to the UCAS statistics that the minister mentioned, while the number of students who come from deprived backgrounds going to university is rising in Scotland, we still lag considerably behind other United Kingdom jurisdictions in percentage terms. Will she explain why she thinks that that is happening and say what plans she has to provide more bursary support?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Shirley-Anne Somerville on widening access to higher education. The minister will take questions at the end of he...
The Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
This Government wants every child, no matter their background, to have an equal chance of going to university. Statistics show that, currently, that is not t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The minister will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow approximately 20 minutes, or perhaps a little bit extra, for qu...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for prior sight of her statement. I also welcome the work that has been undertaken by Sir Peter Scott, by the universities themselves, b...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Liz Smith will be well aware that the Scottish Government is investing more than £1 billion in the higher education sector. That demonstrates our commitment ...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the minister for early sight of her statement. The Government’s purpose that every child, no matter their background, should have an equal chance of...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Iain Gray is quite right to point out the challenge of reaching the interim targets. I have set out the work that the Scottish Government will do and the wor...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I have 10 back benchers who want to ask questions, so I ask for crisp questions and crisp answers, please.
Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
SNP
I remind members that I am the parliamentary liaison officer to the education secretary. When we think about widening access to—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No, I want a question and I expect you to set an example. Start with a question, please.
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
Can the minister outline what role she sees for colleges as part of the widening access agenda?
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
The Government and I recognise the important role that colleges play in widening access. They often open the door to further and higher education for the fir...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I want to return to the point that was raised by my colleague Liz Smith. What advice will the minister give parents whose children will no longer be offered ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
A short question, please. Do not develop it.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
What I would say to any parent or young person is that they have a Scottish Government that is determined to ensure that all young people will have fair acce...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted that the Government has delivered on its commitment to introduce a full bursary for care-experienced young people. Can the minister explain in...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
We considered carefully the options for eligibility for the bursary, taking into account a range of evidence and discussions that my officials and I had with...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Given that, in 2013, the Government cut the maximum bursary that is available by almost £1,000, can the minister confirm that the issue of student cost of li...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
As the member is no doubt aware, a review of student support is on-going at this time. That review, which is independent of Government, will consider a varie...
Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP)
SNP
How will contextual admissions and access thresholds ensure that talent is evaluated fairly? Have universities that already offer grade adjustments experienc...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Clare Haughey is right to point out that many universities already use contextualised data, and many of them make significant adjustments to entry tariffs. N...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
Given that the minister and the commission have emphasised the need for a whole-system approach, will the minister clarify how the Government will ensure tha...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The question has been asked, minister.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Ross Greer makes an important point. We need to give holistic consideration to the challenges that are affecting students, including the cost of public trans...
Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
I thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement. On Sunday, Andrew Neil pressed the First Minister five times—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No, no—I want a question, Mr Rumbles. You are not special.
Mike Rumbles
LD
—on the impact that cutting grants has had for students from poorer backgrounds. I can come to the front bench if you want me to ask my question from the fr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No—you are a back bencher. I want your question, please.
Mike Rumbles
LD
I am not a back bencher; I am a front bencher.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I want your question, please.