Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 June 2015
03 Jun 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Universities
Let me go on to my next point.
There are more fundamental issues than simply governance that we have to address in the university sector. However, governance can be used to help with, for example, the skills shortage in the economy. We have real development in the app economy. There are 1.8 million app jobs across Europe, which is expected to grow to 5.8 million in 2018, but we have a skills shortage in Scotland. Across the UK, there are more than 900,000 job vacancies because of a lack of engineering and information technology skills.
There is a job for our universities, with proper leadership from the Government, in tackling the shortages in engineering and IT. To do that, they need proper governance, aligned with leadership from the Government and proper funding. That is why it is extremely regrettable that we see a £21 million reduction in university funding, which has affected research funding and therefore undermines our ability to contribute to specialities such as the app sector of the economy.
The debate has to be viewed in a wider context. Governance is one part of it. I accept that it is not just a case of introducing legislation; legislation has to be tested so that it works. We also need to look at fundamental issues such as the skills shortage.
15:12In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-13313, in the name of Liz Smith, on Scotland’s universities. We are extraordinarily tight for time today....
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
It does not really matter which academic, economic or social measurement is chosen—Scottish universities are held in high esteem throughout the world. That i...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance)
SNP
I am pleased that the Conservatives have chosen to discuss higher education, because that gives me the opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s universities and t...
Liz Smith
Con
I absolutely agree with those statistics, but what are the grounds on which universities have achieved such outstanding success?
Angela Constance
SNP
The £1 billion annual funding to which this Government is committed has made some contribution. Of course, many others should be congratulated, not least of ...
Liz Smith
Con
Why does the cabinet secretary think that Professor Downes said that the Scottish Government should “reflect seriously on the wide range of evidence that sa...
Angela Constance
SNP
We are indeed considering the wide range of evidence that is available in Scotland and across the developed world. In addition, as an open and transparent Go...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You are in your final 30 seconds.
Angela Constance
SNP
I want to briefly share a couple of facts on what universities and the Government have achieved by working together. We know that the number of Scotland-domi...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The amendment in my name seeks to leave intact the first half or so of the Conservative motion, for the simple reason that there can be no disagreement with ...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I agree that our university sector makes an outstanding contribution to Scotland academically, socially and culturally. That is why the Scottish Government i...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the fact that the Conservatives are using their time to look at the key issue of how we organise our universities. The issues in the debate concern...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member accept that what we are taking is not a free-market approach but a fundamentally liberal approach? Such an approach is completely missing aro...
James Kelly
Lab
I was going to say that, whereas legislation should not be used for legislation’s sake, as Mr Gray and others pointed out, huge amounts of public money are i...
Liz Smith
Con
On what grounds is the member arguing that there is a serious problem in higher education? Where is the evidence that we are failing because governance is no...
James Kelly
Lab
Let me go on to my next point. There are more fundamental issues than simply governance that we have to address in the university sector. However, governan...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I very much welcome the opportunity to speak in this afternoon’s debate on the important contribution that our universities make to Scotland. Liz Smith is ri...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Presiding Officer, let me declare an interest: my alma mater is the University of Strathclyde, of which I am an honorary fellow. Not surprisingly, I hold my ...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful to Annabel Goldie for describing how things can be done very well. The point in any sensible society is that we want to ensure that things are ...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased that Parliament has this opportunity to debate the challenges that face our universities. In Aberdeen, the issue of support for our university s...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Could you draw to a close, please?
Richard Baker
Lab
That is not an argument against reform; it is an argument against an overbearing approach from central Government. There should be accountability to staff an...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that I have to advise members that there is absolutely no time. Please stick to your time. 15:30
Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
SNP
My constituency has two universities within its boundaries: Edinburgh Napier University and Heriot-Watt University. I take great interest in both institution...
Iain Gray
Lab
Although short, this has been a two-pronged debate: there has been some debate on the success of our universities and their funding, but it has mostly been a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that you must close now, please.
Iain Gray
Lab
They are not trade union reps but they are often treated as such. As I said in my opening speech, yes, there should be autonomy, but it should be responsibl...
Angela Constance
SNP
I say to Mr Gray that, although I have many faults—I am sure that he is familiar with a few of them—complacency is most certainly not one of them. As I refl...
Iain Gray
Lab
Will the minister address the point about the transfers to the SAAS?
Angela Constance
SNP
Of course there has been a transfer of resources, but that has no impact on the level of support available to students. SAAS funding for student support is d...