To ask the First Minister what action is being taken to ensure that funding for Scottish universities does not fall further behind that of those in other parts of the United Kingdom. (S3F-53)

As was said yesterday, that issue will be considered in detail during the forthcoming comprehensive spending review. It is clear that the international competitiveness of Scottish higher education is a critical issue for Scotland. We will take into account developments elsewhere in the United Kingdom and internationally and work on developing a robust evidence base ahead of the spending review. I am delighted that Universities Scotland has said that it is keen to work with the Executive on that.

The annual budget of the University of Edinburgh is £450 million, that of the University of Manchester is £600 million and that of the University of Cambridge is £900 million. How can we ever compete in teaching and research if the Scottish Executive does not face up to the direct funding of universities—which is the real problem in higher education—as the United Kingdom Government has done south of the border?

George Foulkes says that universities should not fall further behind, but his question is something of an indictment of his colleagues who were in the previous Administration. I understand that the position of Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen is that Scottish universities were and are properly funded.

It was said yesterday that a huge issue is coming up—namely, whether we will be able to sustain our relative position in the light of the funding that could go to universities south of the border when the cap comes off top-up fees. That issue was, of course, debated strongly in the Westminster Parliament. A large number of Labour Party members of Parliament—72—rebelled against the Government's proposal, which was passed by only five votes. I have with me the division list relating to that vote. The then rector of the University of Edinburgh, Tam Dalyell, was among the rebels; George Foulkes, who was then the MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, was among the Government's supporters. The Government will take action to protect the position of Scottish universities, but there is one person in the chamber with an individual responsibility for the threat that looms over our university systems—Lord George Foulkes.

Yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning said in response to a question that Scottish universities are "well funded". That statement will have raised eyebrows in the university sector, which is worried about its competitive position. Does the First Minister agree that it is time for an independent review of higher education funding and student support in Scotland that is modelled on the Cubie committee review, so that we can try to safeguard universities, which are important institutions?

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning said yesterday that universities are properly funded and that the potential looming threat was the cap on top-up fees being removed south of the border. To be fair, the member's colleagues have argued that that presents a serious danger. Working on robust evidence-based analysis during the spending review is important. Universities Scotland is pleased with that process, and the Government intends to work in that way.