A quarter of the way into the 21st century, we are living through a time of extreme economic change. We have huge economic potential to realise in Scotland. We are attracting in more direct investment, and our skills system is fundamental to that.

I have made it very clear since coming into post that, along with all my Scottish Government colleagues, we are committed to working with employers, colleges, universities, local government and wider Scottish society to realise the huge potential of our people. That involves making a 2.6 per cent increase in the college budget this year, but it also involves working with our college sector, which I met collaboratively today, on transformation and meeting the needs of our economy.

I look forward to reflecting on the recommendations in the Audit Scotland report, and working collaboratively with the SFC, Colleges Scotland and the wider sector to realise more of Scotland’s remarkable human potential. The Government is absolutely committed to investing in that potential.