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| 'We will stand by free tuition fees' - Jenny Gilruth | 'We will stand by free tuition fees' - Jenny Gilruth |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Education secretary Jenny Gilruth told The Sunday Show the SNP would never support bringing back tuition fees | |
| Education Minister Jenny Gilruth has vowed the SNP will "stand by" free tuition fees despite the funding crisis facing Scotland's universities. | Education Minister Jenny Gilruth has vowed the SNP will "stand by" free tuition fees despite the funding crisis facing Scotland's universities. |
| Scotland is the only UK nation to offer free university tuition to its home students. | Scotland is the only UK nation to offer free university tuition to its home students. |
| The future of the policy has been questioned amid a funding crisis in the sector, which was brought into sharp focus last week after Dundee University announced it is to cut 632 jobs in a bid to address a £35m deficit. | The future of the policy has been questioned amid a funding crisis in the sector, which was brought into sharp focus last week after Dundee University announced it is to cut 632 jobs in a bid to address a £35m deficit. |
| Gilruth described its situation as "deeply concerning" but added factors such as inflationary pressures and national insurance contributions were having a wider impact on the higher education sector. | Gilruth described its situation as "deeply concerning" but added factors such as inflationary pressures and national insurance contributions were having a wider impact on the higher education sector. |
| She told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "My party, the SNP, is never going to support a policy where we bring back tuition fees. | She told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "My party, the SNP, is never going to support a policy where we bring back tuition fees. |
| "We need to look to the progress we have made in relation to widening access to children from our poorer communities. | "We need to look to the progress we have made in relation to widening access to children from our poorer communities. |
| "We have seen real and significant progress in that." | "We have seen real and significant progress in that." |
| The Dundee University cuts, announced on Tuesday, represents about 20% of the university's workforce of more than 3,000 people. | The Dundee University cuts, announced on Tuesday, represents about 20% of the university's workforce of more than 3,000 people. |
| Interim principal Prof Shane O'Neill also confirmed an external investigation would also be conducted into "what went wrong." | Interim principal Prof Shane O'Neill also confirmed an external investigation would also be conducted into "what went wrong." |
| Elsewhere, the University of Edinburgh is looking to make £140m of cuts over the next 18 months, Aberdeen University has cut staff through voluntary redundancy programmes and the city's Robert Gordon University has put 135 roles "at risk". | Elsewhere, the University of Edinburgh is looking to make £140m of cuts over the next 18 months, Aberdeen University has cut staff through voluntary redundancy programmes and the city's Robert Gordon University has put 135 roles "at risk". |
| It has been suggested that more than 80 universities across the UK face deficits of between £10m and £50m, with Durham and Cardiff both planning significant spending cuts. | It has been suggested that more than 80 universities across the UK face deficits of between £10m and £50m, with Durham and Cardiff both planning significant spending cuts. |
| Gilruth said Dundee's situation was "troubling" for staff and students alike. | Gilruth said Dundee's situation was "troubling" for staff and students alike. |
| And she confirmed the Scottish government had pledged an additional £10m to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to supplement the £15m that was put in place through the Scottish Budget. | And she confirmed the Scottish government had pledged an additional £10m to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to supplement the £15m that was put in place through the Scottish Budget. |
| Last week the University and College Union said Dundee staff were being made to pay the price for "egregious management failure". | Last week the University and College Union said Dundee staff were being made to pay the price for "egregious management failure". |
| Gilruth also highlighted wider pressures, such as the rise in national insurance contributions announced by the Chancellor last October, which Universities Scotland say will cost institutions £45m. | Gilruth also highlighted wider pressures, such as the rise in national insurance contributions announced by the Chancellor last October, which Universities Scotland say will cost institutions £45m. |
| Asked why the taxpayer should pay for students from wealthy families to attend university, the minister said: "Our policy on free tuition is well understood by the Scottish people and we don't go back on our promises in relation to this. | Asked why the taxpayer should pay for students from wealthy families to attend university, the minister said: "Our policy on free tuition is well understood by the Scottish people and we don't go back on our promises in relation to this. |
| "We have been very clear on our policy position on this over a number of years. | "We have been very clear on our policy position on this over a number of years. |
| "Free tuition is a policy we will stand by." | "Free tuition is a policy we will stand by." |
| Pressed on whether it would be in the SNP's Holyrood election manifesto next year, she replied: "Absolutely." | Pressed on whether it would be in the SNP's Holyrood election manifesto next year, she replied: "Absolutely." |