English GN's referendeum

Whatever, it is other people's (taxpayers) money, lovely to spend that without a care.

grants granted? Sorry, you know what I mean!

Yes, and EU grants have been granted willy-nilly for all sorts of daft schemes that have failed, but for which the actual running expenses have been paid by the Welsh taxpayers.

Lots of money has been creamed off for pet projects at the expense of other, vital, services.

Would that happen though - realistically?
I agree wholeheartedly that devolution for Wales has not been a great success.

Perhaps their theory is that, even if there is a grant for part of the tuition fees there won't be a large take-up in the future if the schools are poor and fewer students manage to get to university.

Yes, I agree re prescriptions, as the Health Service in Wales has longer waiting times than in England.

So much for devolution. That is why I was half hoping that Scotland votes Yes so that we can have some of that money diverted to Wales!

I agree. And I think they should charge at least a minimal fee for prescriptions.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25196974

Perhaps they should spend some of that money on improving the schools in Wales.

Where does it say that? Anyway, the fact remains...

I think the course has to be approved.

Not that much more complicated, rosequartz! That's where I got the information from too - the fact remains that Welsh students' fees are capped. Which isn't the case in England.

It is a bit more complicated than it seems at first glance in Wales. It depends on the course as well, I understand.

www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/new-students/201415-what-financial-support-is-available/tuition-fee-support.aspx

Thanks for the information Ana. I was not sure of the position in Wales.

granjura why isn't politics like this all the time - so good

Not sure this is the right thread for that, granjura!

youtu.be/J39bBV7CBJk

inspirational

Granny23, please read my last post - just above yours - which sets out the Welsh position...

Farnorth -nothing at all. This is what happens in Wales, although full fees are not paid by the Welsh authorities - I think it is around 50%. This 'way round the problem has been discussed here in Scotland but yet again the powers that be have suppressed the information. Students from the Republic of Ireland get free tuition at Scottish Universities under EU rules (same as French German, etc students), but Northern Irish students have to pay.

Hollydaze Most Scottish MPs are Labour Party so they have to follow the UK Labour Party policy, The Scottish Liberals, whose manifesto had said no tuition fees had to vote in favour of them because they were part of the Coalition Government. The SNP MPs always abstain from England & Wales only debates.

Tuition fees for Welsh students are capped. In the case of a £9,000 fee, they pay £3,685 a year and the government will cover the remaining £5,315.

(Just to make it clear that not every other part of the UK pays full whack for university fees. This applies whatever uni a Welsh student attends.)

I think that's one of the ideas being thought about FarNorth especially if Scotland becomes independent and the rest of the UK is then on the same footing as any other EU country.

What would be to stop a Scottish government from charging tuition fees to everyone, then giving a grant / bursary to Scottish residents?
(Definition of Scottish resident to be worked out at the time of bringing in such a measure.)

Gordon Brown has been really impressive in last few days, I think.

penguinpaperback

I have no idea about how the Irish fare under Scottish university fees - I think my brain must have gone into freeze at the mention of requesting special 'permission' to charge that other stuff must have just floated by!

Student mobility is enshrined in EU law, as is the right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of nationality. There is absolutely no precedent of an EU member state successfully applying for derogation from the provisions on student mobility.

From what was said, they are going to ask the EU for it to be considered under exceptional circumstances (though they didn't outline what those circumstances are).