SNP challenged on reports 16 out of 20 Scotland’s colleges face deficits

Edinburgh College - credit Jisc

Scottish Labour is set to challenge the Scottish Government on reports 16 out of 20 colleges in Scotland will end the year in the red.

An investigation by The Herald newspaper has claimed more than three quarters of Scottish colleges are forecasting a deficit for the current financial year, according to returns sent to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

Universities and colleges minister Shirley-Anne Somerville did not deny there might be further financial hardships ahead for the sector.

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Scottish Labour inequalities spokesperson Monica Lennon said the reports were “alarming”, and will raise a topical question on the issue in parliament.

“We still don’t know whether the SNP’s shake-up of our colleges has been worth it, but we do know that college places have been slashed by the SNP,” she said.

“Scotland used to have a commitment to education and lifelong learning, but it is hard to see how that is being delivered today as opportunities are cut off from Scots.

“Yet more cuts to the education budget will only make this worse. That’s why the SNP Government should accept Labour’s amendments to the Scottish budget to stop the cuts. SNP ministers face a choice – they can accept a Tory budget from Westminster, or they can work with Labour to stop the cuts.”

In an interview for the next issue of Holyrood magazine, Somerville did not rule out further cuts to higher and further education funding.

“The Scottish Government lives in challenging times, and that goes for all the ministers we have. We will have to work with the universities and colleges to deliver,” she said.