Seòmar agus comataidhean

The final question of the evidence session is from Willie Rennie.

We have spoken about the flexibilities that the college sector has, and we spoke earlier about the disposal of assets. During our debate on 8 May, you said that colleges were to be given further flexibilities in that regard. Will you update us on progress on that and say what is happening in that space?

I have very good clerking notes.

So you are confirming that the money will not be taken out of the college budget and sent off to support mental health services in the NHS, for example.

Of course.

I call Liam Kerr.

I draw your attention, minister, to the Official Report from 5 June, which might be the evidence session of interest to you. At that meeting, Dr Conlon of London Economics said that, compared with England and Wales, there is a funding shortfall of about £1,500 per student in Scotland, and that the current system of fees benefits those with middle-to-higher incomes.

Could I bring in—

Good morning, and welcome to the 22nd meeting in 2024 of the Education, Children and Young People Committee.

We have apologies from Stephanie Callaghan, and I welcome Stuart McMillan as a committee substitute.

The first item on our agenda is our final pre-budget scrutiny evidence session. I welcome our witnesses, who are Graeme Dey, the Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans; and Stuart Greig, the head of the governance and assurance division in the Scottish Government’s lifelong learning and skills directorate.

We have no opening statement to hear and will move straight to members’ questions. John Mason will kick us off.

We had a bit of a head-to-head last year, if you remember, regarding your £56 million of savings from demand-led programmes in last year’s budget. In January this year, you did not rule out the prospect of in-year pressures on the budget. I have your wording here. You said that “external factors” meant that you could not rule out more in-year cuts. What update can you provide the committee with today regarding in-year cuts to education spending?

I would like to bring in Stuart McMillan with a supplementary question first and see how that goes.

We had a very interesting, broad-ranging discussion. A lot of evidence and data had been collected.

I have a list of members wishing to contribute. John Mason is next, followed by Willie Rennie.