Public Petitions Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Official Report 237KB pdf

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New Petitions

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Further Education Funding (PE1414)

Item 3 is consideration of new petitions. There is one new petition for consideration today, which is PE1414, in the name of Dougie Deans, on behalf of Unison further education sector, on funding for further education. As well as a note by the clerk, members have a Scottish Parliament information centre briefing and a copy of the petition. I invite the committee to consider the petition and discuss what action to take.

This is an important, topical petition on a subject that is on everyone’s lips. However, although the petition refers to college funding throughout Scotland, it concerns me that it is rather localised—it seems to be about the north-east of Scotland, particularly Angus. The people whom the petitioners contacted seem to represent one section of the political arena. It concerns me that the information has been collected in quite an insular way.

As someone who came through the college system, I support colleges 100 per cent. I know that we will have a debate on FE funding and that the issue is being considered by the Education and Culture Committee. I would like the petition to go to that committee while it is considering funding. However, other members may have other ideas.

Sandra White is correct on the role here of the Education and Culture Committee. I think that the previous time the committee agreed to take a similar petition forward we were mindful of the fact that the Education and Culture Committee was already doing work on the subject. I would be wary about duplication of effort if we were to take the petition forward when the Education and Culture Committee will undoubtedly be looking at the issue. We should pass it on for that committee to wrap up into its work. As Sandra White has identified, although the petition broadens out to consider the national situation, it is very local in its focus.

That is probably the right disposal for the petition. Members have had thousands of e-mails on the issue so, although the petition initially focuses on Angus, it is on an issue that affects the whole of Scotland. The Education and Culture Committee is probably the right place for it to go.

To supplement what colleagues have said, I think that we should not consider the petition at present. There is a wonderful further education college in my constituency, and I want to support it in every way. However, the petition is a bit too narrow and we should refer it to the Education and Culture Committee, bearing in mind what is going on at present.

It would be remiss of us not to say that this has been the subject of wide-ranging debate in the chamber, where the Opposition has lodged motions for debate. The discussion is not confined to committees. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has answered a number of questions on the issue and has made proposals to take the FE sector forward. I agree that we should refer the petition to the Education and Culture Committee for consideration. Hopefully, the petitioner will be satisfied that, by passing the petition on to that committee, we are ensuring that it will form part of a wider debate on further and higher education funding.

Do members agree to refer the petition to the Education and Culture Committee?

Members indicated agreement.

Under rule 15.6.2, we refer the petition to the Education and Culture Committee for it to consider the issues that the petition raises.