Ex-university head calls for privatisation

A FORMER principal of Edinburgh University has called for large sections of the country's university sector to be privatised, and for institutions to be allowed to set their own fees.

Lord Sutherland said universities should be able to charge at least 9000 for a degree, and that 30 per cent of income would be set aside to help students from poorer backgrounds, it was reported today.

The former president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, now University of London vice-chancellor, is due to set out his proposals at a lecture tonight.

He will call for an end to government funding for all "non-priority" faculties, such as the arts, humanities and social sciences, which, along with all subjects, are currently free to study in Scotland.

A US-style system would be set up for these parts of Scots universities, which would see some subjects financed by tuition fees and training contracts.