MP warns of budget cuts facing Capital universities

EDINBURGH East MP Sheila Gilmore has warned that universities in the Capital face having their budgets slashed following recommendations to lift the cap on fees south of the border.

Lord Browne this week published his review of university funding which stated that universities in England and Wales should be free to charge whatever they like.

Sheila Gilmore said: "The coalition are talking about raising tuition fees in England to 7000, so that students pay more for their education.

"This cut will be reflected in the money Scottish Government gets in its grant from the Treasury, which it could then be forced to pass on to Scottish universities, especially if broader cuts of between 25 and 40 per cent are announced in next week's spending review.

"With Scottish students not paying tuition fees, institutions like Edinburgh, Napier and Heriot-Watt could face financial difficulties."