SCOTLAND’S universities have hit out at the UK Government for leaving them in the dark over Brexit and funding.
In his spending review on Wednesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak earmarked no new money to get the university sector over the impact of Covid-19.
With the end of the transition period looming, umbrella body Universities Scotland says the country’s institutions face “financial insecurity” as a result of Westminster decisions and still do not know what will happen for students or staff.
Today the body welcomed the increase in the Scottish block grant and £400 million-a-year spend on research. But it said: “There was no new money assigned to the sector directly from the Treasury to help with issues caused by the pandemic and little clarity over the future funding arrangements at the end of the transition period out of the EU.”
It went on: “Universities are now facing uncertainty with no clarity about how much money will be coming to Scotland via either the investment in research or the Shared Prosperity Fund.”
The Scottish Funding Council estimates the sector will face an overall deficit of £176m in 2020-21.
Universities Scotland is calling for “rapid progress” on funding in the Scottish Budget of “at least” the “complete reversal of the £750 per student real terms erosion in funding since 2014-15”.
Its convenor, Professor Gerry McCormac, said: “It is regrettable that with only days to go until the end of the transition period we still have no clarity over our future research relationship with the EU, nor do we know if we will be members of the Erasmus student mobility scheme. Whilst we welcome the commitment that all EU funds will be covered, the lack of detail around the Shared Prosperity Fund is of concern.”
Saying the Universities Scotland call will “inform our thinking” on funding, the Scottish Government said: “We expect full replacement of EU funds to ensure no detriment to Scotland’s finances and we expect the UK Government to fully respect the devolution settlement in any future arrangement.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel