§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development, funding and future of the Scottish agricultural colleges. [24085]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe three former Scottish agricultural colleges at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Auchincruive were merged into a single Scottish Agricultural College in 1990. The administrative and financial relationship between the college and the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department is set out in a memorandum of understanding, which recognises that the board of the college is solely responsible for the conduct of its business. It also places a requirement on the college, in line with the Government's policy, to find an increasing proportion of its funding from sources other than SOAFD, and I have no plans to change the present policy. In 1995–96 the grant in aid from SOAFD to the college will be £19.7 million.