Chamber and committees

Long before Aberdeen established itself as an energy capital, it was known as a seat of learning. The city that I represent is home to one of Scotland’s four ancient universities—the University of Aberdeen—and has been home to a university for more than 500 years. For most of that time, it has been home to two universities. Today, we have the University of Aberdeen and the Robert Gordon University; for about a quarter of a millennium, we had King’s College and Marischal College, until those merged in 1860. In fact, for a time, Aberdeen had as many universities as the whole of England had; academia has always been important to the city that I represent.

In my constituency of Aberdeen Donside lie some of the most deprived communities in Scotland. Access to university can make a world of difference to the young folk who grow up there. The community that I live in is one of those less well-off places. Often, the bairns were asked what they wanted to do after school. I have heard the question being worded differently in better-off areas and in private schools—there, it is, “What are you going to study at university?” or suchlike, all of which carries the expectation that the young person will go to university. However, for those in the poorer areas, there needed to be encouragement and support, because far too many thought that university was not for them.

I remember when up-front tuition fees were introduced in Scotland and were later replaced with back-door tuition fees. They put up a barrier to education that left many from less affluent backgrounds questioning whether a university education was worth the cost. It meant that young folk were making decisions about going to university based on their ability to pay rather than their ability to learn.

I am proud that the SNP Government abolished back-door tuition fees and that it has committed to keeping universities free. At the time, the commitment was attacked as a handout to well-off households. However, with a 45 per cent increase in 10 years in the number of students from the most deprived communities entering university, it has been an investment in building a more equal, fairer Scotland.

As I mentioned, academia helped Aberdeen to establish itself on the world stage. Let me focus on how UK Government policies are starting to cut those universities off from the world and how that hinders their ability to close the attainment gap. The number of students from across the EU coming to Aberdeen has fallen dramatically since Brexit. That was offset somewhat for a time by students coming from the rest of the world. However, immigration policy has changed again to stop folk bringing their dependants. Many students are choosing not to study here, rather than being separated from their support networks or from their children. The overall message is horrible—that the UK, including Scotland and Scotland’s universities, is closed to the world.

The resulting fall in student numbers means that courses are ceasing to be viable, and we are starting to see some—such as modern languages at the University of Aberdeen—no longer being offered as stand-alone degrees. That means less choice and fewer chances for young folk in some of our most deprived communities, including those that I represent. It is not stopping the boats; it is stopping young folk succeeding in life. Let us commit to keeping Scotland tuition fee free. Let us reopen our universities to the world again, and let us ensure that those universities are a gateway to the world for the young folk who are growing up in some of Scotland’s poorest communities.

I would like some clarification with regard to the electoral registration officers. Are you suggesting that the deputes should be one of each—a registration officer and a returning officer—to ensure that all bases are covered, so to speak? I am sorry if I misheard.

If what I have read is correct, local government elections could be postponed for two weeks. That will have a huge impact if the postal votes have already gone out. Do you envisage that the postal votes that had been sent out would all be null and void and that new postal votes would have to be issued, or would the ones that had come back simply be used for the postponed election two weeks later? Either way, I think that there would be problems.

As a former councillor, I know that, when Aberdeen City Council housing officers deal with new tenancy agreements, one part of the pack encourages people to sign up to vote. That involves joint work by the Grampian valuation joint board and the ERO.

Robert Nicol, what are your views on that? Is there anything else that could increase voter registration? How would it be best to take that forward?

I just said that the convener was brave to say that.

I would like to ask about section 29 of the bill, which is about democratic engagement funding. The engagement funding will be enabling, but the bill does not actually commit funds at this time. I am keen to hear your views on that. Andy Hunter is catching my eye, so I will go to him first.

Do schools have a part to play in encouraging our younger generation to have their say and get their names on the electoral roll?

I want to follow up on the issue of premises. I am aware that a lot of schools are used. That might give rise to another issue, because some schools close. How much notice would you need to give the education authority? Do you have the ability to say, “No, sorry—you have to close,” or is it down to the willingness of the education authority to do so?

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider stocking alcohol-free variants of spirits, wine and other alcoholic beverages in the Scottish Parliament gift shop. (S6O-03257)

Many people now do not drink alcohol, for all sorts of reasons, including health and religion—not that anyone ever needs a reason. A recent survey suggested that 44 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds now regularly or occasionally drink alcohol alternatives. Alcohol alternatives mean that people do not now need to drink alcohol to be able to enjoy the taste of some of our nation’s most famous drinks. What more can be done to encourage producers and suppliers to the Parliament to offer alcohol-free alternatives, thereby allowing our Parliament to move with the times and stock a more inclusive range of gifts?