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So, there have been those discussions about the delivery plans?

A lot has been said by the First Minister and by you—you mentioned it in some of your earlier remarks—about eradicating child poverty. The First Minister is saying that that is the key pledge of his Government and that passing this budget will ensure that that happens. I am therefore wondering why you, as the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, cannot say that.

So, you believe that it is going to be eradicated?

You also gave us a commitment that parliamentarians will see that amendment.

Is there anything that you did not get?

The finance secretary stated that the HE budget will rise by 3.5 per cent. However, some sector organisations have pointed out that that is only possible if the student places that were added during the Covid era are removed from the system but the funds attached to those places, worth £14.5 million, remain.

Is that correct? Is that how you get a 3.5 per cent rise in the HE budget, Mr Dey?

You have confirmed on the record that you agree with the First Minister, who has said that “adequate resources” are going into the college sector. However, we have been told by Colleges Scotland, regarding the budget, that

“This announcement is deeply disappointing for Scotland’s 24 colleges”,

that

“the sector’s call for greater investment has been overlooked”,

that

“This shortfall will have far-reaching implications for Scotland’s economic recovery”,

and that

“this funding cut poses significant challenges.”

Colleges Scotland also says that the £20.1 million cut to capital is “alarming”. How can we compare what you and the First Minister are saying with what Colleges Scotland is telling us?

Cabinet secretary, you say that I spoke about that, but I did not use the word “alarming”. It was Colleges Scotland that used the word “alarming”. Perhaps the minister would like to comment on that.

Well, we did—it was our motion that was successful and garnered the support of other Opposition parties. It is sad that that does not materialise into action.

It is not insignificant at all, but it is also not a universal roll-out, which was promised by the Government that is now in charge and which was agreed by Parliament.