Students attack Cubie dilution

Scotland's student leaders are continuing to demand the full implementation of the Cubie committee's recommendations for student support.

Responding to the Scottish Executive's consultation paper, they accuse the politicians of watering down the Cubie proposals, which are aimed at reducing the burden of student debt.

Both the National Union of Students Scotland and the Scottish ancient universities group condemn the Pounds 10,000 income threshold for graduate endowment contributions. Cubie recommended a Pounds 25,000 threshold.

Tim Shand of Glasgow University's students' representative council, the ancients' spokesman, said the Scottish Executive was only paying lip-service to removing financial barriers for potential students.

While both groups praise the Scottish Executive for introducing bursaries for young people from poorer backgrounds, they want to see this extended. NUS Scotland is unhappy that the proposed mature students' bursary fund is discretionary and run by institutions.

The ancients' group also wants automatic bursaries for mature students and the abolition of fees for part-time students.

Colin Beveridge of Napier University's students' association said the current consultation followed consensus over Cubie.

"We see this secondary consultation process as a regrettable waste of taxpayers' money," he said.