16th September 2016Students deserve better support.We support free tuition in Scotland, but the SNP has slashed bursaries and grants - and that means students increasingly have to turn to loans and track up more debt. Lower bursariesThe average student bursary is £400 less than when the SNP came to power.In 2006-07 the average was £1,760 compared with £1,330 in 2015-16.Higher loansIn turn the average loan has increased by nearly £3,000.In 2006-07 the average loan paid per student for living costs in that academic year was £2,310, but by 2015-16 that figure has risen to £5,290.Students deserve better supportLabour committed to reversing the SNP's cuts at the last Scottish election. We would also lift the threshold that people start paying back their student loan to £21,000 - helping graduates on low incomes.The SNP said that education was the top priority - but these cuts are saddling students with unfair levels of debt.
