Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 8 March 2016.

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Photo of Liam McArthur Liam McArthur Liberal Democrat

I do not really have time, I am afraid.

All the evidence shows that the best-performing universities worldwide are those that exercise the greatest level of responsible autonomy. Universities should be accountable and transparent, and they should reflect the diversity of the communities that they serve. How that is best achieved, however, should not be second-guessed by ministers using the blunt instrument of legislation.

Given the complete absence of any evidence for why legislation is needed, and the potential for the bill to hinder rather than help our world-class universities, I cannot support it at decision time this evening.