Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) Bill [H.L.]

House of Lords

Session 1998-99
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Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) Bill [H.L.]

This is the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) Bill [H.L.], as introduced in the House of Lords on 9th March 1999.

Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) Bill [H.L.]

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

Clause

1. Scottish University fee arrangements.

2. The Saltire Scholarship Award.

3. Short title.

A
B I L L
TO
Amend the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 in respect of Scottish university fee arrangements and grants for Scottish students attending higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Scottish University fee arrangements.     1. In section 10 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 (payment of grants to Funding Council), after subsection (3G) (inserted by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998) there is inserted-

    "(3GG) In exercising his powers under this section, the Secretary of State shall ensure that no tuition fees are payable for the fourth year of study for a first degree course at a higher education institution in Scotland by a student whose parental home or normal place of residence for purposes other than attendance at that institution is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland."

The Saltire Scholarship Award.     2. After section 42 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 (payment of grants to Funding Council), there is inserted-

"The Saltire Scholarship Award.     42A. - (1) The Secretary of State shall establish the Saltire Scholarship Award ("the Award") and grant it annually to any relevant student.

    (2) A relevant student is a student-

(a) who attains the minimum standard of academic qualification for entrance to a higher education institution in the United Kingdom, and

(b) whose parental home or normal place of residence for the purpose of attending school, college or distance learning course to achieve the minimum academic standard of qualification is in Scotland.

    (3) Subject to subsection (6), the Award shall be equal to the value of the tuition fee set by the Secretary of State under section 73D(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

    (4) The minimum standard of academic qualification for entrance to higher education in the United Kingdom required under subsection (2) shall be determined by the Secretary of State in consultation with-

(a) the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals, and

(b) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

    (5) Once a relevant student has been admitted to a course of higher education by a higher education institution in the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State shall make arrangements for paying to that higher education institution a sum equal to the value of the Award within the terms set out in subsections (6) to (8) below.

    (6) The Award is redeemable only-

(a) against the tuition fee imposed by any higher education institution in the United Kingdom, and

(b) (subject to subsection (7)), in respect of up to four years of study required to complete a course of higher education in the United Kingom.

    (7) The Award is also redeemable against the tuition fee for the fifth year of a course of study at a higher education institution in the United Kingdom only on completion of the fourth year, and with such exeptions as the Secretary of State may determine by order.

    (8) Such further Awards mentioned in subsection (7) are limited to the completion of that course of which the student has already completed four years."

Short title.     3. This Act may be cited as the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) Act 1999.

© Parliamentary copyright 1999
Prepared 10 March 1999