I record my appreciation and admiration for college staff, both in my capacity as an MSP representing my constituents and in my capacity as Minister serving the people of Scotland as a whole. The Government and I strongly recognise the contribution that our colleges make to enabling people to fulfil their potential and improve their circumstances. That is why there was an increase in spending on our colleges of 2.6 per cent in this financial year.

The question of the public finances is challenging. No one is denying that. The First Minister emphasised it today, and I am emphasising it now. We are operating in an environment in which inflation costs went up in the years that are stated in the Audit Scotland report. I very much respect the report and will be carefully examining the recommendations, but we cannot ignore the fact that we are operating in an environment in which the Scottish budget has been cut for many years, and in which inflation has eroded the capacity of the budget to be utilised. It is an environment in which increased national insurance contributions have been imposed on the Scottish public sector without recourse to repayment of those from the United Kingdom Government. I met Colleges Scotland today, and I am looking forward to working with it constructively on the challenges that we face together and on ensuring that Scotland’s people are able to fulfil their potential, including through our colleges.