Scotland and Wales gain education powers

Further and higher education will be devolved to a Scottish parliament and a Welsh assembly under proposals unveiled by Government this week. The two devolution white papers pave the way for referendums in September, with the Scots voting on whether they want a parliament and whether it should have the power to vary taxes, while the Welsh will vote on a non-tax raising assembly which will not have its own legislative powers.

If the electorate support the Government plans, the higher and further education funding councils for Wales would report directly to the Welsh assembly, while the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council would come under the Scottish parliament. Scottish further education colleges are currently funded directly by the Scottish Office.