Scottish fees plan ¡®not legal¡¯, says Willetts

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