Hansard

I warmly congratulate Ben Macpherson on his appointment as Minister for Higher and Further Education and welcome him to that vital role. I look forward to working with him again and to enjoying lively discussion, as we did previously when he and I were serving in the social security briefs.

I also put on the record my thanks to his predecessor, Graeme Dey, for his service and engagement and, in particular, for meeting disabled people recently to discuss access to apprenticeships. I hope that Mr Macpherson will continue to pursue that endeavour.

This ministerial role is crucial to Scotland’s future. It needs focus and leadership, and I hope that the new minister will rise to that challenge. When he does so, and when he does the right thing for students, staff and institutions, I assure him that he will find constructive common ground and partners on the Labour benches.

The challenges that are faced are urgent. Colleges saw real-terms funding reductions of 17 per cent between 2021 and 2025, with some closing campuses and student and staff numbers reducing. According to Universities Scotland, universities face a perfect storm, as they are receiving 19 per cent less per Scottish student than they received a decade ago, and they are shedding staff while students are faced with fewer options and, in some cases, less support. The pressures on institutional sustainability are unprecedented. On that, I ask for the new minister’s early commitment to on-going discussions with Universities Scotland and the sector, working to develop a more sustainable long-term financial model and to involve institutions, trade unions, staff and students for the greater good of Scotland and a brighter and more prosperous future for the sector.

We in the Labour Party look forward to engaging with Mr Macpherson in good faith, because Scotland’s learners and education providers deserve no less. I congratulate him again on his appointment, and I look forward to working with him in due course.