University Tuition Fees

First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 7 November 2024.

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Photo of George Adam George Adam Scottish National Party

Does the First Minister find it concerning that the Labour United Kingdom Government has announced that university tuition fees will rise to £9,535 per year? Michael Marra has hinted that Labour would examine models to reintroduce some form of charges in Scotland and the Tory leader, Russell Findlay, has spoken openly about ending free tuition. Does the First Minister agree that education should always be based on the ability to learn, rather than on the ability to pay?

Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I agree with Mr Adam on the principle that education should be based on the ability to learn and not on the ability to pay. As a consequence of the policy stance that the Government has taken, record numbers of Scots secure a university place in Scotland and record numbers of Scots from deprived areas secure places at university without having to face the tens of thousands of pounds of debt that the Opposition parties seem determined to saddle them with.

That is what people get from the Scottish National Party Government delivering for the people of Scotland, delivering access to higher education and ensuring that people are not saddled with the debt that they would be saddled with if the tuition fees in other parts of the United Kingdom were applied.