University fees

Brian Wilson (“SNP dogma on university fees is hitting higher education – and that isn’t another lecture”, Perspective, 29 December) makes a good case for the introduction of tuition fees for university education.

I often feel sorry for Johann Lamont, who effectively torpedoed her own political career when she pointed out that Scotland simply cannot afford the largesse of “free” universal benefits.

Such benefits are not, of course, “free”. They are taxpayer-funded. The revenue doled out on these policies leaves shortages elsewhere.

We are just about getting by at the moment. It is certainly the case, however, that an independent Scotland could not afford to be so open handed.

Mr Wilson might have added that in his and my day approximately 10 per cent to 12 per cent of the population went to university.

The figure is now higher than 50 per cent – and rising – a figure which surely makes the current fee policy unsustainable.

As Mr Wilson rightly points out, nobody is suggesting an end to “free” tuition. It could still be provided on that basis to those who need it.

But those who can afford to pay – such as the parents who spend £12,000 or more to educate their children privately – could surely be asked to make a contribution.

We read in the same issue that, at the other end of the spectrum, the grant to less well-off students has fallen by 36 per cent under the SNP – the party which pledged to abolish student debt. The revenue from a means-tested fee regime could, in part, be used to enable such students not only to continue to enjoy the current benefit but also to receive more generous grants.

Such an incentive might play some part in encouraging poorer youngsters to raise their educational ambitions.

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh