20Council to have regard to particular matters
(1)In exercising its functions, the Council is to have regard to—
(a)skills needs in Scotland;
(b)issues affecting the economy of Scotland; and
(c)social and cultural issues in Scotland.
(2)In exercising its functions, the Council is to—
(a)have regard to the desirability of the achieving of sustainable development; and
(b)in particular, encourage the fundable bodies to contribute (so far as reasonably practicable for them to do so) to the achievement of sustainable development.
(3)In exercising its functions, the Council is to have regard to the—
(a)United Kingdom context; and
(b)international context,
in which any of the fundable bodies may carry on their activities.
(4)In exercising its functions, the Council is to have regard to the educational and related needs (including support needs) of persons who are, and the likely educational and related needs (including support needs) of persons who might wish to become, students of any of the fundable bodies.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), “skills needs” means any requirement or desirability for skills or knowledge which, following consultation with the Scottish Ministers, appears to the Council—
(a)to exist for the time being or be likely to exist in the future; and
(b)to be capable of being addressed (wholly or partly) by the provision of fundable further education or fundable higher education.
(6)For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) and (c), “issues” means issues which, following consultation with the Scottish Ministers, appear to the Council—
(a)to exist for the time being or be likely to exist in the future; and
(b)to be capable of being addressed (wholly or partly) by the provision of fundable further education or fundable higher education.