To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to help resolve the industrial dispute by lecturers. (S6O-03342)

I meet campus unions biannually and representatives of the sector in several forums regularly. Although I can—and should—have no direct role in those negotiations, I have made it clear that I expect college management and unions to work together to reach a settlement that is affordable and fair for workers and that minimises disruption for students. I am aware that, at formal meetings of the National Joint Negotiation Committee in March, both sides agreed to continue with informal discussions to seek a resolution to the dispute. I am pleased that such on-going dialogue continues, and I encourage both sides to keep talking as they work to break the impasse.

Lecturers have been taking action short of strike action since February. Despite that action being lawful, colleges have been threatening to deduct up to 100 per cent of lecturers’ pay, even when they attend work as normal. Does the minister agree that that is completely unacceptable?

I reiterate that we would all want the dispute to be settled and the heat to be taken out of the current situation. My understanding is that all the colleges took legal advice, which said that they were within their rights to consider such action. I understand, too, that the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers Association has acknowledged that in the advice that it has given its own members. However, let us be honest: we would all rather that agreement was found and that such action was avoided.

How is the Scottish Government ensuring that fair work principles are embedded throughout the further education sector?

In the letter of guidance that the Government issued to the Scottish Funding Council on 29 March, I set out that implementation of fair work first principles must be the guiding criterion for promoting fairer work practices for staff in the college sector. The Government expects the Scottish Funding Council to continue monitoring adherence across the sector.

To further support fair work in the college sector, the Government recently introduced legislation to add trade union nominees to college boards, which will improve trade union recognition and confidence in college governance. Not every college has yet arrived at that position. I encourage those colleges and the trade unions to work actively to achieve that position.