Chamber
Plenary, 15 Feb 2007
15 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Crichton University Campus
I advise the member to be patient in that regard.
On student numbers, I believe that the overall level of provision at the Crichton campus should, at the very least, be maintained. Alasdair Morgan may not think that that is important, but it is. Assertions that participation in higher education in Dumfries and Galloway is the lowest in Scotland are simply not true. The participation rate in Dumfries and Galloway is about the same as it is in Edinburgh and higher than it is in Glasgow.
Fiona Hyslop made a point about ministerial intervention, but intervening is not something that I would chose to do, on a whim or otherwise. By law, ministers cannot—and neither should they—direct or allocate funding to a particular institution. I did not make that decision on my own. The Parliament, including members of the Scottish National Party, took that decision less than two years ago. The principle is important and it should be upheld. However, we have advised the Scottish funding council that it should ensure that adequate further and higher education provision is available in the south of Scotland. That important point was made. In the statement that it issued yesterday, following its meeting with the Crichton partners earlier this week, the funding council confirmed its commitment to do that. I welcome the funding council's proposal to provide funding to support a review of the academic strategy in the region. Obviously, the matter is one for the Parliament and other places to debate and decide.
The Executive's commitment to funding in the region has been called into question unfairly. The funding council has provided significant support to Crichton. I doubt that that statement can be denied. In addition to the new funding of £28 million that I mentioned, as Elaine Murray said, £2.3 million in initial strategic change grant payments were made to support the early development of the campus. The Crichton partners also received an additional 100 funded student places in 2001-02 and another 50 in 2002-03.
On student numbers, I believe that the overall level of provision at the Crichton campus should, at the very least, be maintained. Alasdair Morgan may not think that that is important, but it is. Assertions that participation in higher education in Dumfries and Galloway is the lowest in Scotland are simply not true. The participation rate in Dumfries and Galloway is about the same as it is in Edinburgh and higher than it is in Glasgow.
Fiona Hyslop made a point about ministerial intervention, but intervening is not something that I would chose to do, on a whim or otherwise. By law, ministers cannot—and neither should they—direct or allocate funding to a particular institution. I did not make that decision on my own. The Parliament, including members of the Scottish National Party, took that decision less than two years ago. The principle is important and it should be upheld. However, we have advised the Scottish funding council that it should ensure that adequate further and higher education provision is available in the south of Scotland. That important point was made. In the statement that it issued yesterday, following its meeting with the Crichton partners earlier this week, the funding council confirmed its commitment to do that. I welcome the funding council's proposal to provide funding to support a review of the academic strategy in the region. Obviously, the matter is one for the Parliament and other places to debate and decide.
The Executive's commitment to funding in the region has been called into question unfairly. The funding council has provided significant support to Crichton. I doubt that that statement can be denied. In addition to the new funding of £28 million that I mentioned, as Elaine Murray said, £2.3 million in initial strategic change grant payments were made to support the early development of the campus. The Crichton partners also received an additional 100 funded student places in 2001-02 and another 50 in 2002-03.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S2M-5444, in the name of Elaine Murray, on the threat to the Crichton campus in Dumf...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises and applauds the success of the Crichton university campus in Dumfries over the past seven years and the contribution made by ...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the group of stakeholders who are in the public gallery. They comprise students, staff, the chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council, and p...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Before we move to the open debate, I remind those in the public gallery that it is not appropriate for them to applaud.
Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I am glad that Elaine Murray has secured a debate on a topic that is of such vital importance to the future of the south-west of Scotland. As time is very br...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Elaine Murray on lodging the motion and I echo her warm welcome to those who have made the journey up from the south-west for the debate.Let u...
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green):
Green
I congratulate Elaine Murray on securing this important debate. Indeed, the debate on the threat to the Crichton campus is currently the most important debat...
Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol):
Sol
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 t...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Elaine Murray for bringing this important subject to the chamber. As the first non-South of Scotland MSP to speak in the debate, I will discuss the n...
Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I also thank Elaine Murray for securing today's debate on what is a very important subject to Dumfries and Galloway, as well as to the south of Scotland and ...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
Early in the Parliament's first session, I had the honour and great pleasure to take part in an environmental symposium at Crichton College. I kept up that r...
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
Lab
I thank Elaine Murray for providing us with the opportunity to debate a subject that is of great importance to our policy position, and for her speech, which...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
The minister should just cut to the chase: does he or the Executive have a view on whether they would prefer the University of Glasgow to stay at Crichton ca...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I advise the member to be patient in that regard.On student numbers, I believe that the overall level of provision at the Crichton campus should, at the very...
Chris Ballance:
Green
The minister's allotted time is running out, and we would very much like him to address the question that Alasdair Morgan asked: does he support the range of...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I thought that I had just explained to Chris Ballance and other members that ministers are denied by law from doing what he suggests. Interruption. Chris Bal...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Alex Fergusson:
Con
Will the minister give way?
Allan Wilson:
Lab
Let me make progress.The funding council allocates a block teaching grant to institutions. It is up to each university, as an autonomous body, to decide how ...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I will continue my point.Comparisons have been made with the level of provision and investment in the Highlands and Islands—Alasdair Morgan made such compari...
Chris Ballance:
Green
Will the minister meet the funding council to discuss the issue?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Do not intervene from a sedentary position, Mr Ballance.
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I ask Chris Ballance to be patient, as I will come to that point.I pay tribute to Glasgow University for its support of Crichton campus and I hope that it wi...
Meeting closed at 17:53.