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Hyslop defends university funding | Hyslop defends university funding |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Scotland's education secretary has denied that universities have been short changed over funding in this week's budget announcement. | Scotland's education secretary has denied that universities have been short changed over funding in this week's budget announcement. |
Fiona Hyslop also rejected Tory calls for an independent inquiry into higher education funding. | Fiona Hyslop also rejected Tory calls for an independent inquiry into higher education funding. |
University leaders said they had requested a £168m increase in 2007-2008 but received £30m and voiced concern about further investment. | |
They said Scottish universities could lose out to competitors elsewhere. | |
The Scottish Government has pledged overall funding of £5.24bn to higher and further education over three years. | |
Sir Muir Russell, the convener of Universities Scotland, said: "The spending review announcement is a disappointing response to the strong case for investment in higher education made by universities. | |
We have to live within our means when we get that kind of settlement from Westminster Education secretary Fiona Hyslop | |
"We are concerned that it may weaken our competitive position relative to universities in England." | |
Ms Hyslop said she would talk to principals but insisted that spending had increased under the SNP. | Ms Hyslop said she would talk to principals but insisted that spending had increased under the SNP. |
Ms Hyslop said: "It's a tight settlement and you have to say, should hospital patients suffer in order to give universities a £0.5bn increase when actually we can manage a reasonable settlement that keeps us competitive. | Ms Hyslop said: "It's a tight settlement and you have to say, should hospital patients suffer in order to give universities a £0.5bn increase when actually we can manage a reasonable settlement that keeps us competitive. |
"That is the important thing. | |
Funding package | |
"We have to live within our means when we get that kind of settlement from Westminster." | |
The education secretary said there were "challenges ahead" and added that she wanted to discuss the issue with university principals. | |
She said that the proportion of funds given to universities had gone up and added: "Despite that tight settlement we're prepared to give a bigger share of government spend to universities than they had under the last government." | |
Ms Hyslop rejected a call for an urgent and independent review of higher education which had been made by Murdo Fraser, education spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives. | |
Mr Fraser said: "It is clear that Fiona Hyslop has meekly surrendered in the battle for budget resources. | |
"During the elections in May, Scottish Conservatives called for a full and independent review into university and student funding. | |
"This week's events have only added urgency to that demand." |
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