Letter: Unfair criticism

Following publication of the Browne Report, The Scotsman editorial (13 October) expressed concern that none of the political parties in Scotland had spelt out their policy plans for higher education. While that may be a criticism that can be levied at the SNP, Labour and the Liberal Democrats, it is certainly not one that can be levied at the Scottish Conservatives.

Our calls for an independent review into the future funding of higher education were first made four years ago on the basis that we could see then the need for radical reform if Scotland's universities were to be able to maintain and enhance academic standards at the same time as widening access to more students. Our pleas fell on deaf ears.

We were not deterred however. We undertook our own research and embarked on a very extensive process of speaking to many different groups within the sector, to schools, business and industry - the people whose expertise and views are absolutely crucial if we are to find a solution to the problems we face. We also researched the funding systems of other countries.

That process culminated in the Scottish Conservatives running a Universities Conference in mid-September - attended by different stakeholder groups and speakers from different political backgrounds - and using a debate in Holyrood to set out our specific plans.These were for a graduate contribution based on an income contingent loan system as opposed to either up-front tuition fees or a graduate tax, both of which we reject.

In September, we produced a policy paper on why we had made this choice and how we believed it could work in Scotland. We deliberately chose to publish these policy plans ahead of Lord Browne's report on the basis that we believe there should be a Scottish solution to a Scottish problem. I believed that I had a responsibility to put our cards on the table. We did.

LIZ SMITH, MSP

Conservative education spokesman

Scottish Parliament