By Democrat reporter
Scottish Labour has branded the SNP’s Tertiary Education and Training Bill a “missed opportunity with a hefty price tag” ahead of Stage 1.
The proposed legislation, set to be voted on today (Thursday 25), primarily moves responsibilities between Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
However, the Scottish Parliament Education Committee unanimously refused to back the Bill over confusion about costs. The cost of the changes has been subject of significant debate, with estimated costs ranging from £2.7 million to £30 million.
The Education Committee also raised concerns around unanswered questions on capacity at the SFC, apprenticeship funding priorities, and system coherence—particularly the relationship between careers, planning and funding functions.
Stakeholders have also raised concerns about the substance of the Bill, with SDS criticising the government’s focus on “narrow structural change” in the face of significant challenges to universities, colleges and apprenticeships.
PCS described the Bill as “bad legislation” and UNISON warned that the proposals are “fraught with risk”.
Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy, pictured, said: “Scotland’s broken skills system is depriving young people of opportunities and hindering our economy, but the SNP’s Bill is a missed opportunity with a hefty price tag.
“The SNP is planning to fritter away millions of pounds moving things around in a bid to mask the fact it has no real vision for education or skills.
“Once again this knackered SNP government has failed to produce good legislation or make its sums add up.“Scottish Labour will continue to call for change in our education and skills system, but we will not ask taxpayers to write a blank cheque for a pointless rejig of SNP quangos.”
However, SDS warned that the Financial Memorandum “significantly under-represent the cost” and the “estimated costs for the Bill remain largely unknown” https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/tertiary-education-and-training-bill-fm-cfvs/consultation/view_respondent?uuId=350389584
SDS estimate the cost of transferring powers could be £30 million: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/ECYP-07-05-2025?meeting=16406&iob=140157#orscontributions_C2684636