Scots minister rejects beneficial college merger

Scottish education minister Brian Wilson has rejected a further education college merger proposal which he concedes would have educational and financial benefits. Last summer, Mr Wilson urged Scotland's 46 colleges to come forward with merger bids. But he has now vetoed the proposal from Glasgow College of Building and Printing and Glasgow College of Food Technology, saying he is not satisfied that the merger would improve further education provision in Glasgow as a whole.

The two colleges, which already collaborate strongly, are among five specialist further education institutions in the city centre, and ten colleges in the Glasgow area.