Budget cuts must not be used to push for Scottish tuition fees or job cuts

The union said it was angry at the 6.7% cut to the higher education budget, compared to a 2% cut in the Scottish budget. The union said it was now time for the government to look seriously at proposals to make all beneficiaries of higher education foot the bill.

UCU highlighted the late Lord Dearing's report that described the three beneficiaries as the state, the student and business. The union said the increasing the rate of corporation tax to just the level of the G7 average would raise urgently needed funds for education.

UCU Scottish official, Mary Senior, said: 'The cut in higher education funding is much more severe than the overall cut in the Scottish budget. However, we universities must not to use the cuts as an excuse to push for higher student fees or to axe jobs.

'The severity of the cuts will impact on the teaching of students and the quality of their education. The time has come to ensure that all three beneficiaries of higher education, including big business, foot their share of the bill.'