Commenting as NUS Scotland release new research which shows that the current college support budget is not enough to meet demand, Scottish Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:
Liam McArthur MSP"This research will come as no great shock to students or college principals across Scotland. It confirms what Scottish Liberal Democrats have been saying for months and highlights the risk from the SNP's approach to college funding.
"Colleges are already dipping into their own pockets to fund support to students from less well-off backgrounds. The Scottish Government's plans to cut this budget by £11m next year are, therefore, deeply worrying, not least as efforts to widen access and improve dropout rates will inevitably suffer.
"SNP Ministers have made solemn promises to protect student places and support. Even the First Minister claims to be committed to backing NUS Scotland's Our Further, Our Fight campaign. Yet this research, and similar work done by Scottish Colleges over recent weeks prove that Mr Salmond and his colleagues are failing to put their money where their mouth is.
"Instead of shedding crocodile tears or blaming everyone else for the choices he has made, Mr Salmond needs to ensure these cuts to Scotland's colleges are reversed."