Committee News Release
CENT 01/2003
Wednesday 2 July 2003
ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INQUIRY
INTO THE IMPACT OF ENGLAND’S UNIVERSITY FEES ON SCOTTISH HIGHER
EDUCATION
The Scottish Parliament’s newly established Enterprise and Culture Committee today announced an open call for evidence for its forthcoming inquiry into what impact the introduction of top-up fees in England will have upon Scottish universities.
The inquiry, called ‘Scottish Solutions’, follows concerns expressed by Scottish universities that the English proposals could result in increased funding being available to English universities, resulting in potential knock-on effects for Scottish universities. It will look at how the proposals for the funding of English universities will affect those in Scotland, and possible responses that could help to address this.
Views are being sought from across Scotland – especially from those involved in delivering as well as receiving higher education.
Committee Convener Alasdair Morgan said:
‘Higher education is a vital part of Scotland’s economy, and our universities have a world-wide reputation for excellence. We are interested in seeing what evidence there is of potential problems and developing solutions to address these.
“The political parties in Scotland have already stated their opposition to up-front tuition fees so we may need to look at other ways of making sure our universities can continue to provide high quality education and maintain a competitive position.”
Currently, Scottish students do not pay tuition fees up-front. Instead the Executive pays universities on their behalf whilst they are studying and then students pay into a Graduate Endowment Fund once they are earning more than £10,000. In England, students pay up to £1,125 per year, depending on their family income. The proposal in England is that universities would be allowed (but not required) to increase the annual fee to £3,000.
The remit of the inquiry is:
To inquire into the impact in Scotland of the implementation of proposals in England to raise tuition fees for higher education.
Specifically, the Committee wishes to ask:
1. Whether the implementation of the proposals contained in or resulting from the English White Paper ‘The Future of Higher Education’ is likely to result in competitive disadvantage for Scottish universities and colleges?
2. If so, what will be the nature and degree of that competitive disadvantage?
3. In the context of Scotland’s overall lifelong learning and skills strategy, what solutions could we employ to maintain competitiveness, recognising that all political parties in Scotland are committed to the avoidance of up-front tuition fees?
Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written
evidence to the Committee. Submissions should not be more than 6 sides
of A4. The closing date for evidence is Tuesday 30 September 2003. Wherever
possible, please email submissions to:
scottishsolutions@scottish.parliament.uk
Where email is not available, please contact the Clerk to the Committee, Simon Watkins, on 0131 248 5207, or Judith Evans, Senior Assistant Clerk, on 0131 348 5214, to make alternative arrangements.
BACKGROUND
The Enterprise and Culture Committee was established by a resolution of the Parliament on 4 June 2003. Its remit is:
To consider and report on matters relating to the Scottish economy, business and industry, energy, training, further and higher education, lifelong learning and such other matters which fall within the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning; and matters relating to tourism, culture and sport and such other matters as fall within the responsibility of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.
The membership of the Committee is:
Alasdair Morgan (Convener), Scottish National Party, South of Scotland
Mike Watson (Deputy Convener), Labour, Glasgow Cathcart
Brian Adam, Scottish National Party, Aberdeen North
Mr Richard Baker, Labour, North East Scotland
Chris Ballance, Green, South of Scotland
Susan Deacon, Labour, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Murdo Fraser, Conservative, Mid Scotland and Fife
Christine May, Labour, Central Fife
Mr Jamie Stone, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Caithness, Sutherland and
Easter Ross
What sort of evidence is the Committee looking for?
The following guidance is offered to assist those wishing to submit written evidence, and is not intended to be prescriptive.
1. The political parties in Scotland have given clear commitments on
their opposition to up-front tuition fees. Consequently the Committee
does not intend to consider this as an option, and it will not be necessary
to submit evidence on this issue.
2. The Committee is looking for detailed and specific evidence on the impact in Scotland of the introduction of the new arrangements in England. For example, there may be differential impacts between Scottish universities. As far as is possible, therefore, the Committee asks that submissions give specific examples of particular impacts, rather than broad generalisations. (The Committee recognises however that some submissions, particularly those representing numbers of individuals or organisations, will necessarily contain some generalisations.)
3. Ideally the Committee would wish to produce as a result of its inquiry proposals or options for possible future structures and mechanisms for funding higher education, to maintain national and international competitive advantage for Scotland. The Committee would therefore welcome creative and innovative solutions as part of the evidence.
4. Evidence submitted may be published by the Parliament, in electronic or paper form. If you do not wish your submission to be made public, please state this clearly at the start of the submission.
5. Evidence should be limited to 6 sides of A4. If your evidence is
likely to be substantially longer, please contact the Clerks to discuss.
For further information, the media contact is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6269
Out of hours: 07699 717177
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk
For specific committee information contact:
Simon Watkins, Direct Tel: 0131 348 5207 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome)
Email: simon.watkins@scottish.parliament.uk
Judith Evans, Direct Tel: 0131 348 5214 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome)
Email: judith.evans@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local
call rate)
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk