Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005

SCHEDULE 1 The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council

(introduced by section 1)

Status

1 (1) The Council is a body corporate.

(2) The Council—

(a) is not a servant or agent of the Crown;

(b) has no status, immunity or privilege of the Crown,

and its property is not to be regarded as property of, or held on behalf of, the Crown.

Membership of the Council

2 (1) The Council is to consist of the following members—

(a) the person holding the post of chief executive;

(b) a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers to chair meetings of the Council (the “chairing member”); and

(c) no fewer than 11 nor more than 14 other members appointed by the Scottish Ministers.

(2) Each member (apart from the chief executive) is to be appointed for a period not exceeding 4 years.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may, on the expiry of a period of appointment of a member (apart from the chief executive), extend that appointment for a single further period not exceeding 4 years.

(4) A member (apart from the chief executive)—

(a) may by giving notice in writing to the Scottish Ministers resign office as a member of the Council; and

(b) otherwise, holds and vacates office in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment.

(5) If the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that a member (apart from the chief executive)—

(a) has been absent from meetings of the Council for a period longer than 6 consecutive months without the permission of the Council; or

(b) is otherwise unable or unfit to discharge the functions of a member,

the Scottish Ministers may by giving notice in writing to the member remove the member from office.

(6) A person is, on ceasing to be a member, eligible for reappointment.

3 (1) In appointing members, the Scottish Ministers are to have regard to the desirability of including—

(a) persons who—

(i) have experience of, and have shown capacity in, the provision of fundable further education or fundable higher education; or

(ii) have held, and have shown the capacity in, any position carrying the responsibility for the provision of such education;

(b) persons who have experience of, and have shown capacity in industrial, commercial or financial matters or the practice of any profession; and

(c) persons who have such other skills, knowledge or experience as the Scottish Ministers consider to be relevant in relation to the exercise of the Council’s functions.

(2) In appointing members, the Scottish Ministers are also to have regard to the desirability of—

(a) including persons who are currently engaged in the provision of, or carrying responsibility for the provision of, fundable further education or fundable higher education; and

(b) the membership of the Council (taken as a whole) having experience of, and having shown capacity in, a broad range of such education.

(3) In appointing members, the Scottish Ministers are also to have regard to the desirability of including persons who—

(a) have experience, and have shown capacity, relating to research or the application of research; and

(b) are currently engaged in research or the application of research.

Disqualification from membership

4 A person is disqualified from appointment, and from holding office, as a member of the Council if that person is—

(a) a member of the House of Lords;

(b) a member of the House of Commons;

(c) a member of the Scottish Parliament;

(d) a member of the European Parliament; or

(e) disqualified from election as a member of the Scottish Parliament or as a member of a local authority.

Remuneration, allowances and pensions for members

5 (1) The Council is to pay to its members (apart from the chief executive) such remuneration as the Scottish Ministers may in each case determine.

(2) The Council is to pay to its members such allowances as the Scottish Ministers may in each case determine.

(3) The Council is, in respect of any person who is or has been a member (apart from the chief executive), to pay, or make such payments towards the provision of, such pensions, allowances and gratuities as the Scottish Ministers may in each case determine.

(4) Where a person ceases to be a member (apart from the chief executive), the Scottish Ministers may, in special circumstances, direct the Council to make to the person a payment of such amount of compensation as the Scottish Ministers may determine.

Chief executive

6 (1) The Council is to employ a chief executive.

(2) The person referred to in sub-paragraph (3) is (except where sub-paragraph (4) applies) transferred to the employment of, and becomes the first chief executive of, the Council.

(3) That person is the person who, immediately before the coming into force of this paragraph, holds (by virtue of section 59A(1) and (2)(a) of the 1992 Act) appointments as both—

(a) the chief officer of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council; and

(b) the equivalent officer of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

(4) But if—

(a) there is no person holding both of those appointments immediately before coming into force of this paragraph; or

(b) the person holding both of those appointments immediately before the coming into force of this paragraph is unwilling, unable or unfit to be transferred to the employment of the Council,

the Scottish Ministers are to make the first appointment of the chief executive of the Council on such terms and conditions as the Scottish Ministers may determine.

(5) Each subsequent chief executive is, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, to be appointed by the Council on such terms and conditions as the Council may, with such approval, determine.

Other staff

7 (1) All staff employed, immediately before the coming into force of this paragraph, by—

(a) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council;

(b) the Scottish Further Education Funding Council; and

(c) those Councils jointly,

are transferred to the employment of the Council.

(2) The Council may (subject to any directions given under sub-paragraph (3)) appoint such other employees on such terms and conditions as the Council may determine.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may give directions to the Council as regards the appointment of employees under sub-paragraph (2) and as regards terms and conditions of their employment.

Continuity of employment etc.

8 (1) The contract of employment of a person transferred by virtue of paragraph 6(2) or 7(1)—

(a) is not terminated by the transfer; and

(b) has effect from the date of transfer as if originally made between the person and the Council.

(2) Without prejudice to sub-paragraph (1), where a person is transferred to the employment of the Council by virtue of paragraph 6(2) or 7(1)—

(a) all the rights, powers, duties and liabilities of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council or the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council under or in connection with the person’s contract of employment are transferred to the Council on the date of transfer; and

(b) anything done before that date by or in relation to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council or the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in respect of the person or that contract is to be treated from that date as having been done by or in relation to the Council.

(3) Paragraphs 6(2) and 7(1) and sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph do not affect any right of any person to terminate the person’s contract of employment if the terms and conditions of employment are changed substantially to the detriment of the person; but such a change is not to be taken to have occurred by reason only that the identity of the person’s employer changes by virtue of those provisions.

Transfer of property and liabilities

9 (1) All property (including rights) and liabilities, subsisting immediately before the coming into force of this paragraph, of—

(a) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council; and

(b) the Scottish Further Education Funding Council,

are transferred to, and vest in, the Council.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect in relation to property and liabilities to which it applies despite any provision (of whatever nature) which would otherwise prevent, penalise or restrict the transfer of the property or liabilities.

Proceedings of the Council

10 (1) The Council may regulate its own procedure (including any quorum).

(2) The validity of any proceedings of the Council is not affected by a vacancy in membership nor by any defect in the appointment of a member.

Committees

11 (1) The Council must establish a committee (a “skills committee”) for the purposes of advising the Council on matters relating to skills.

(2) The Council is to appoint one of its members to chair meetings of the skills committee.

(3) In appointing members of the skills committee, the Council is to have regard to any guidance issued to it under sub-paragraph (4)(a).

(4) The Scottish Ministers may issue to the Council guidance about—

(a) the composition of the skills committee; and

(b) the committee’s functions.

12 (1) The Council must establish a committee (a “research committee”) for the purposes of advising the Council on matters concerning research.

(2) The Council is to appoint one of its members to chair meetings of the research committee.

(3) In appointing members of the research committee, the Council is to have regard to the desirability of including persons who—

(a) have experience, and have shown capacity, relating to research or the application of research; and

(b) are currently engaged in research or the application of research.

13 The Council may establish other committees for any purposes relating to its functions.

14 (1) The Council is to—

(a) subject to paragraphs 11(2) and (3) and 12(2) and (3), determine the composition of its committees;

(b) determine the terms and conditions of committee membership; and

(c) determine the procedure (including any quorum) of its committees.

(2) Any of the committees of the Council may include persons who are not members of the Council.

(3) The Council is to pay to the members of its committees (whether or not they are also members of the Council) such allowances as the Scottish Ministers may determine.

(4) The Council is to keep under review the structure of its committees and the scope of the activities of each.

Delegation of functions

15 (1) The Council may authorise—

(a) the chief executive;

(b) the chairing member; or

(c) any of its committees,

to exercise such of its functions to such extent as it may determine.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the responsibility of the Council for the exercise of its functions.

Participation of Scottish Ministers at meetings

16 A representative of the Scottish Ministers is entitled to participate in any deliberations (but not in decisions) at meetings of the Council or of any committee of the Council.

Accounts

17 (1) The Council must—

(a) keep proper accounts and accounting records;

(b) prepare in respect of each financial year a statement of accounts; and

(c) send the statement of accounts to the Scottish Ministers,

in accordance with such directions as the Scottish Ministers may give.

(2) The Scottish Ministers must send the statement of accounts to the Auditor General for Scotland for auditing.

Reports and information

18 (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the Council must prepare a report on its activities during that year and must—

(a) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers; and

(b) publish the report,

in accordance with such directions as the Scottish Ministers may give.

(2) The Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the report before the Parliament.

(3) The Council must provide the Scottish Ministers with such other information (including information in the form of a document) relating to the exercise of its functions as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably require.

SCHEDULE 2 Fundable bodies

(introduced by section 6)

Institutions formerly eligible for funding by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council

• Aberdeen College of Further Education

• Angus College of Further Education

• Anniesland College

• Ayr College

• Banff and Buchan College of Further Education

• The Barony College

• Borders College

• Cardonald College

• Central College of Commerce

• Clackmannan College of Further Education

• Clydebank College

• Coatbridge College

• Cumbernauld College

• Dumfries and Galloway College

• Dundee College

• Edinburgh’s Telford College

• Elmwood College

• Falkirk College of Further and Higher Education

• Fife College of Further and Higher Education

• Glasgow College of Building and Printing

• Glasgow College of Food Technology

• Glasgow College of Nautical Science

• Glasgow Metropolitan College

• Glenrothes College

• Inverness College

• James Watt College of Further and Higher Education

• Jewel and Esk Valley College

• John Wheatley College

• Kilmarnock College

• Langside College

• Lauder College

• Lews Castle College

• Moray College

• Motherwell College

• Newbattle Abbey College

• North Glasgow College

• The North Highland College

• Oatridge Agricultural College

• Orkney College

• Perth College

• Reid Kerr College

• Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

• Shetland College

• South Lanarkshire College

• Stevenson College Edinburgh

• Stow College

• West Lothian College

Institutions formerly eligible for funding by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

• Bell College of Technology

• Edinburgh College of Art

• Glasgow Caledonian University

• Glasgow School of Art

• Heriot-Watt University

• Napier University

• The Open University (so far as carrying on activities in or as regards Scotland)

• Queen Margaret University College

• The Robert Gordon University

• Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

• UHI Millennium Institute

• University of Aberdeen

• University of Abertay Dundee

• University of Dundee

• University of Edinburgh

• University of Glasgow

• University of Paisley

• University of St. Andrews

• University of Stirling

• University of Strathclyde

SCHEDULE 3 Amendment of enactments

(introduced by section 32)

Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)

1 In the Superannuation Act 1972, in Schedule 1 (kinds of employment, etc. referred to in section 1) the entries relating to—

(a) the Scottish Further Education Funding Council;

(b) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council; and

(c) a body corporate created by virtue of section 59A(2)(c) of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992,

are repealed.

House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)

2 In the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, in Part III of Schedule 1 (disqualifying offices) the entries relating to—

(a) the Scottish Further Education Funding Council; and

(b) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council,

are repealed.

Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65)

3 In the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, section 23B is repealed.

Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)

4 In the Race Relations Act 1976—

(a) section 18B; and

(b) in Schedule 1A (bodies and other persons subject to general statutory duty), the entries relating to—

(i) the Scottish Further Education Funding Council; and

(ii) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council,

are repealed.

Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40)

5 In section 235 (general interpretation) of the Education Reform Act 1988, in subsection (5A), for the words “Scottish Higher Education Funding Council” there is substituted “Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council”.

Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 (c. 37)

6 (1) In the 1992 Act—

(a) in section 3 (powers of Scottish Ministers), in subsection (1), the words from “shall” to “he” are repealed;

(b) in section 12 (boards of management)—

(i) in subsection (1), for the words from “of” in the second place where it occurs to the end there is substituted “of managing and conducting their college.”; and

(ii) in subsection (3), the words “over school age” are repealed;

(c) in section 44 (designation of institutions), in subsection (1), for the words from “by” in the first place where it occurs to the end there is substituted “, for the purposes of this Part of this Act, by order designate any institution providing higher education (whether or not it also provides education of any other kind or carries on any other activities).”; and

(d) in section 61 (interpretation), after the words “1980;” in the second place where they occur there is inserted—

““the Council” means the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council;”.

(2) In that Act—

(a) section 1(1) and (2) and (4) to (6);

(b) sections 4, 7 to 10, 22, 23, 37, 39 to 43, 50, 51, 53, 54 and 59A;

(c) Schedules 1 and 7; and

(d) paragraphs 4(3) and 5(3) of Schedule 9,

are repealed.

Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (c. 30)

7 In the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998—

(a) section 37 (joint exercise of functions of funding council in Scotland); and

(b) in paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 (minor and consequential amendments), the entry relating to a body corporate created by virtue of section 59A(2)(c) of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992,

are repealed.

Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 1)

8 In the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, in paragraph 11 of schedule 4 (modification of enactments), sub-paragraphs (2) and (4) are repealed.

Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 7)

9 In the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, in schedule 3 (devolved public bodies)—

(a) after the entry relating to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency there is inserted—

“The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council”; and

(b) the entries relating to—

(i) the Scottish Further Education Funding Council; and

(ii) the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council,

are repealed.

Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 6)

10 In the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001, in paragraph (a) of the definition of “publicly funded institution” in subsection (5) of section 1 (the graduate endowment), for the words “4 or 40 of the 1992 Act” there is substituted “12 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 6)”.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11)

11 In the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002, in schedule 2 (listed authorities)—

(a) after paragraph 40 there is inserted—

“40A The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council.”; and

(b) paragraphs 41 and 43 are repealed.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13)

12 In the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, in schedule 1 (Scottish public authorities)—

(a) in paragraph 49, for the words “Scottish Higher Education Funding Council” there is substituted “Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council”;

(b) after paragraph 85 there is inserted—

“85A The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council.”; and

(c) paragraphs 86 and 87 are repealed.

Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 4)

13 In the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003, in schedule 2 (specified authorities)—

(a) after the entry relating to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency there is inserted—

“Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council”; and

(b) the entries relating to the—

(i) Scottish Further Education Funding Council; and

(ii) Scottish Higher Education Funding Council,

are repealed.

The Scottish Further Education Funding Council (Establishment) (Scotland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2667)

14 The Scottish Further Education Funding Council (Establishment) (Scotland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2667) is revoked.