To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change the college and university funding frameworks to reflect the hybrid nature of Scotland’s Rural College, which has both higher and further education provision. (S6O-05017)

The Scottish Government absolutely recognises the important role of hybrid institutions such as the SRUC, which support the delivery of both further and higher education. The current framework allows the Scottish Funding Council to fund institutions to support both provision types.

As the member will be aware, it is the Scottish Funding Council that is responsible for allocating funding to institutions. However, I would be interested to hear more from him on the issue of funding frameworks.

The SRUC has been through the mill in recent years. It has had significant problems with its finances, which have resulted in the closure of buildings and courses, and although it has a huge estate that it inherited from its predecessors, it gets a fraction of the capital funding from the Scottish Funding Council that I think that it deserves. Therefore, I would appreciate it if the Minister could have a discussion with the SFC to ensure that the special hybrid nature of the SRUC is reflected in the finances that are available to it.

I am aware of the contribution that the SRUC makes, not only because of my present role but because of my time as Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment in years past.

I was grateful to receive direct correspondence from the SRUC on my appointment on 29 September, and I am aware of the engagement that my predecessor had with the organisation. I look forward to having further direct engagement with the SRUC on the matters that the member has raised and on other matters of pertinence to the organisation, and to having continued dialogue with the SFC. I will note the points that the member has raised as I undertake that dialogue in the period ahead.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Once again, I forgot to declare an interest as a director of WhistleblowersUK, which is a not-for-profit company that has set up a campaign for a more favourable legislative framework for whistleblowing.

Thank you, Mr Kerr. Your comments are on the record.

The Minister will be aware that, this week, the United Kingdom Government has moved to reintroduce grant support for students on low incomes—and about time, too. Can he confirm that the policy of utilising international student income for that purpose will not affect Scotland’s universities? How do the new measures in England compare with what the Scottish National Party already provides by way of support to students?

The matters that the member raises in relation to the UK Government’s announcement are matters of concern that the Scottish Government will consider. We will continue to make sure that, through free tuition and the enhanced support that is provided in Scotland, learners in Scotland receive the most support in the UK and that the total package of support that is provided here is the most generous in the UK. We will make sure that Scottish students continue to have the lowest average student loan debt in the UK, and we are committed to free tuition, as the Parliament well knows.