It is nice to hear a Conservative welcoming international students, because the rhetoric of the previous UK Government was far from welcoming.

I hope that the university sector would agree that the Scottish Government is working very closely with it on a range of subjects to make it financially more sustainable. On the point about international students, we are working very closely with the sector to enhance the numbers that are coming from a variety of countries. I do not believe that international students coming here is a bad thing. I recognise the risks that the member highlights, but I say to him gently that the issue around international student numbers dropping and the concern that that has caused are directly attributable to the actions and rhetoric of the previous Westminster Government, which he supported.

I seriously hope that this represents a change of position from the Conservatives, certainly in this place, towards being more welcoming of international students and international staff, because that is where we should be as a country.