3. To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for the funding of further education courses in Dumfries and Galloway. (S5O-02209)

In the 2018-19 academic year, through the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, the Scottish Government will provide a real-terms increase of over 8 per cent to support the teaching of further and higher education courses at Dumfries and Galloway College, with the funding totalling £9.73 million. Additionally, we will provide £1.78 million in student support as part of the college’s initial allocation.

At a recent consultation that was carried out with the south of Scotland economic partnership, the chairman mentioned that a good funding application had been submitted by the south of Scotland colleges. Why did the colleges have to do that? Is that not the role of the Scottish funding council?

The colleges in that area should be commended for the innovative work that they are taking forward together and in partnership, and for taking full advantage of the new opportunities that are available in the south of Scotland because of the work that is going on there in not just education but skills, and because of the general economic recovery.

I look forward to hearing more about the suggestions that the colleges are taking to the south of Scotland economic partnership, and I encourage the colleges to continue that work.