Christina McKelvie, SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse has welcomed the prospect of increased funding for higher education.

The proposal, set out in the Scottish Government’s draft budget plans for 2019/20, will maintain investment in Scotland’s universities at over £1 billion.

The MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, has called on her parliamentary colleagues across South Lanarkshire to back the Finance Secretary’s plans to secure “substantial” funding for the area.

MSPs will vote on the plans next month.

Commenting, Christina McKelvie said:

“With spending on Scotland’s colleges set to rise by over £600 million, the Finance Secretary’s budget proposals for the year will come as great news for UWS and other institutions across the country.

“I am calling on local politicians from across the chamber to get behind the plans to secure substantial funding for colleges and universities throughout South Lanarkshire.

Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, Shona Struthers, said:

  “There are elements of the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget that the college sector can welcome given that the revenue resource budget for colleges has increased by £18.3 million to £606.5 million – a real terms increase of 1.3%. It is good news, for example, that the financing of National Bargaining is continuing as this significant investment in lecturing and support staff is essential for colleges and there is also the continuation of the £10 million investment for the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.”