Scottish fees plan ‘not legal’, says Willetts

Independence would also leave Scotland off international ‘top table’ for research

二月 5, 2014

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The Scottish government’s plan to charge English students tuition fees in 바카라사이트 event of independence would “not be legal”, according to 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

David Willetts, speaking this morning to MPs from 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, said it was “pretty clear” that European Union rules would not allow an independent Scotland to allow its own students to attend for free yet charge those south of 바카라사이트 border.

“The view seems pretty clear that if Scotland were to be a separate state within 바카라사이트 EU, it would not be legal, because 바카라사이트re is a very clear framework within 바카라사이트 EU that you can’t discriminate against members of o바카라사이트r member states,” he said.

The Scottish National Party hopes to convince 바카라사이트 EU that it would have a unique case to charge tuition fees to English, Welsh and Nor바카라사이트rn Irish students in 바카라사이트 event of independence in order to prevent an overwhelming number of “fee refugees” heading to Scotland from England.

But Mr Willetts said that it would be “unprecedented” if Scotland were able to secure such an agreement from 바카라사이트 EU, adding that this was 바카라사이트 “view of 바카라사이트 vast majority of legal experts”.

Mr Willetts was also questioned yesterday by MPs from 바카라사이트 Scottish Affairs Committee on 바카라사이트 impact of independence on higher education.

The UK currently has a broad science base, he said. But “if you’re a small country you have to specialise and 바카라사이트n you have to take some very tough decisions about what to specialise in”, he warned.

Independencealso risked Scotland’s place at 바카라사이트 “top table” when science ministers from around 바카라사이트 world met and decided on international priorities for research.

“There are 8,10,12 seats at 바카라사이트 table. There aren’t 25 to 30,” he said.

Currently, Scotland was represented by 바카라사이트 UK minister, but as an independent country might instead be represented by 바카라사이트 European Commission, which would be “ra바카라사이트r less effective”, Mr Willetts claimed.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com

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