That the Parliament notes the recent report by the Commissioner on Fair Access; welcomes the progress that has been made to widen access to university, with a 45% increase in students from the most deprived communities entering university since 2013-14; is grateful for the work of the higher education sector in achieving this success; agrees with the commissioner’s finding that increasing the share of students from the most deprived areas has not led to fewer students progressing to higher education from less deprived areas; reaffirms its commitment to widening access and to meeting the 2026 interim target and the 2030 target, which it agrees will require concerted effort from government and institutions to meet this challenge; agrees that it is vital that higher education continues to be based on the ability to learn rather than the ability to pay, and further agrees that undergraduate students in Scotland should not be expected to pay any form of tuition fees, whether up front or in the form of charges during their course or after graduation, such as graduate endowments or graduate taxes.
Supported by:
Natalie Don-Innes, Jenny Gilruth
Result 69 for, 49 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Alba Party
No Party Affiliation
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 31 for, 69 against, 20 abstained, 9 did not vote Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 22 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote Vote Defeated