To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the effects of tuition fees and the graduate endowment scheme on attitudes towards study in further and higher education.

In July, 1999, the Scottish Executive commissioned an independent committee of inquiry, headed by Mr Andrew Cubie, to conduct a comprehensive review of student finance, which in turn commissioned research to inform its report. Since then the Scottish Executive has not conducted research specifically on the effects of tuition fees and the graduate endowment scheme on attitudes towards study in further and higher education. However, the Executive continues to make use of work conducted by academics and other researchers in the field of further and higher education regarding student finance and possible barriers to participation. We also maintain close links with officials in DfES.