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Chamber

Plenary, 15 Feb 2007

15 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary

Item of business

Crichton University Campus

Byrne, Ms Rosemary Sol South of Scotland Watch on SPTV

I thank Elaine Murray for securing the debate. I also acknowledge and thank the number of people who have come along today. I think that we would all agree that this is a fantastic turnout for a members' business debate. I hope the minister has noted that, because it shows the strength of feeling that there is in Dumfries and Galloway about saving the University of Glasgow's Crichton campus.

We acknowledge the importance of higher education in Dumfries and Galloway, and all of us here tonight are of the same view that something has to be done to change the situation before it is too late. We need to ensure that a broad-based curriculum is on offer to students in the south-west of Scotland. That includes the University of Glasgow's liberal arts courses, which were mentioned by Chris Ballance and others and which include literature, philosophy, history, anthropology, archaeology, tourism—the list goes on and on. The range of subjects is broad and represents an excellent offer for students in the area.

Having a campus in Dumfries and Galloway and encouraging women returners should be celebrated. Being able to access higher education locally is something precious that we should all want to encourage. I believe that equal education for everyone throughout Scotland is an important part of this debate. If we are saying that people in Dumfries and Galloway do not deserve the same equality of education that people in other parts of Scotland have, we are saying that we do not believe in an equal education for everyone in our country. That is a very poor message.

As other members have said, it is also important that we consider the demographic situation in Dumfries and Galloway. It is well known that when students leave their home area to go to university elsewhere they often do not return. One way of ensuring that we keep these people in their area is to provide higher education for them there.

Solidarity stands for education as an end in itself, not only as a means to an end. Education is intrinsically beneficial. For that reason, I disagree with some of the arguments that have been made today—but only mildly so, because I also understand the broader input of education.

Funding to retain University of Glasgow input at Crichton is crucial. It is essential for the long-term viability of the campus. It is important that the funding council provides assistance by providing appropriate financial support to the University of Glasgow; I believe that it would have to cover an annual shortfall of £800,000.

At the start of the debate, Elaine Murray outlined the history and background to the situation. I appreciate that, and she did it well. I will make a plea to the minister. The Crichton's future is linked to the University of Glasgow. That is how it is. I ask the minister to sit round the table with all involved, including the funding council, to secure the future of the University of Glasgow at Crichton campus. I hope that in the next week or two we can see progress being made and that we can secure the future of the campus.

We should look at the number of people who are in the public gallery and think about all the e-mails that we have been inundated with. People in Dumfries and Galloway feel very strongly about the matter. I ask the minister to do his utmost to turn the decision round.