It is designing new, revolutionary qualifications for North Sea oil and gas industries and has increased student numbers by 6 per cent this year. In addition, its total student activity is 19 per cent above the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council level and is funded from its own resources, allowing 2,400 Angus students a springboard to the future and an opportunity that otherwise would be denied to them.Does the minister recognise Scotland’s further education colleges as an immediate and effective resource in getting people into work and driving Scotland’s economy and as a positive way to navigate through the present economic crisis?