NEWS
NEWS IN BRIEF
International comparison shows
WEStMINStER
BaBy P universities sector stretched
Conservative leader David Cameron
launched an impassioned attack on
Gordon Brown at Prime Minister’s
Exclusive ment regularly refers to as models countries for many years. The sec-
Questions over the issues raised by
By Cera Murtagh for best policy. tor is efficient and effective, produc-
the horrific death in Haringey of New research exclusive to Holyrood This comes just ahead of the ing greater output of higher qual-
the child known as Baby P. Brown
shows that public investment in uni- final report of the Joint Future ity for lower inputs from the public
responded by labelling the attack
versities in Scotland is significantly Thinking Taskforce on universities purse than competitor systems.
‘party political’.
lower than in Nordic countries. – between the Scottish Govern- “We are, however, seeing ever-
Since the mid-70s, the average ment, the Scottish Funding Coun- more signs of over-trading in the
tax CutS
Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair
spend per student in Scotland has cil and universities – expected to sector, and have reached a cross-
Darling is expected to announce tax
decreased by about 50 per cent, the be published this week. The group roads. Serious questions are now
cuts in the upcoming pre-budget research by an independent expert was established last year, following being asked in the Scottish univer-
report. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg reveals. Meanwhile Denmark – a disappointing budget settlement sity sector as to whether outputs
has been trying to take credit for the
which does not charge top-up fees for the sector, to review how univer- of truly international note can be
move, claiming his party suggested
and spends a greater percentage sities engage with government and sustained in the long term.
the move first, while Conservative
of its GDP on education – has crucially, how they are funded. “What way do we go from
leader David Cameron has set out his
own tax proposals.
increased its average spend per stu- Despite low levels of public here? Will we decide to invest in
dent by some 15 per cent since the funding, Scotland’s university sec- our universities or to divest from
LLoydS/tSB
mid-90s. tor is one of the most efficient in them? Now is the time to make
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has If adjustments for differences in Europe with robust quality sys- such a decision – the sector cannot
expressed his continuing support
cost of living are made, according tems and quality student support, get any more efficient, it cannot
for the proposed Lloyds-TSB merger,
to the Organisation for Economic according to Silbergh. However, easily raise more private funds than
with HBOS dismissing suggestions
Cooperation and Development, in the squeezed state of the sector it does already. Are we truly aiming
that other bids could be put together.
Secretary of State for Business Peter
2004 Scottish universities received may not be sustainable, he warns: to become a knowledge economy,
Mandelson has already given official
$2000 per student less in real terms “The scale of the discrepancy in or will a stripped-down, low-cost
approval for the deal.
than their Danish equivalents. funding may, however, ultimately model represent the future? The
The research, which compares limit Scotland’s ability to become people and the economy of Scot-
aLCohoL advERtISINg
public investment in higher educa- a genuine knowledge economy, land have derived many benefits
Happy hours could be banned, the
tion in Scotland with that in Den- based around our universities.” from its universities over the centu-
age at which one can purchase alco-
mark, Finland, Sweden and Nor- Silbergh puts the funding gap ries, but one can only run a Rolls
hol at off-licences raised from 18 to
21 and supermarkets prevented from
way, was conducted by Dr David in stark terms and lays down a seri- Royce with the engine of a Mini
selling alcohol at a loss if recommen-
Silbergh of Caledonian Business ous challenge for the Government. for so long. It is time for the princi-
dations made by the House of Com-
School. It reveals a large gap Writing in Holyrood, he argues: pal decision-makers to decide what
mons Select Committee on Home between Scotland and its Nordic “Overall, Scottish universities have the future will be like.” HM
Affairs are taken up. The suggestions
neighbours – small independent coped with lower levels of fund-
are part of a plan to reduce alcohol-
countries that the SNP Govern- ing than competitors in the Nordic For full article, see Special Report page 8
related crime.
PoSt oFFICES CouLd BE SavEd
Thousands of jobs in British Post
Government’s alcohol ad ban unworkable, says regulator
Offices have been saved by a Govern-
ment decision to allow the network Exclusive ling what programmes and adver-
to retain its £1bn benefits contract By Rory Cahill tising children are exposed to.
which faced competition from a
The Scottish Government’s pro- “One of the ideas that’s being
private firm.
posal to ban all alcohol advertising floated is a ban on alcohol ads
Work and Pensions Secretary
before the 9pm watershed would before the 9pm watershed. I would
James Purnell told the Commons
that he was abandoning the
not work and can be considered say that’s a bad idea whether its
procurement process that could
naïve, according to the industry north or south of the border. To
have led to a private company win-
watchdog. deal with the substance of the mat-
ning the Post Office card account Christopher Graham, direc- ter, the rules that we enforce are
contract.
tor-general of the Advertising rather more subtle and they catch
Standards Authority, says that the watching television unmonitored a lot of programmes that are pop-
hEathRoW ExPaNSIoN
changing nature of the way in in bedrooms, and the ability to use ular with under-age drinkers that
The expansion of Heathrow airport
should go ahead in spite of any short-
which young people watch televi- ‘on demand’ features to watch pro- run after the 9pm watershed.
term fears about recession, according
sion means that such a blunt instru- grammes at any time, means the “I think we have placed a
to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.
ment would be largely ineffective. traditional watershed is losing its rather naïve trust in the watershed
The proliferation of children efficacy and as a means of control- being the solution to all our >>
8
| 17 November 2008 | Holyrood magazine |
www.holyrood.com |
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