Following reports that Queen Margaret University may consider merging with other universities due to financial difficulties, Labour MSPs have called for guarantees over the future of its brand new campus in East Lothian.

Reports suggest that merger with Edinburgh ’s Napier, Dundee’s Abertay or Aberdeen ’s Robert Gordon’s are all being considered by the Scottish Funding Council.

Claire Baker MSP, Scottish Labour’s further and higher education spokesperson, said:

“The first priority must be to protect and defend the staff and students at QMU. There are clearly long-term budget issues at the university and the extremely tight settlement for the sector from the SNP Government hasn’t helped.

“The needs of students studying at QMU and any other merging university must be fully taken into account.

“It is also essential that any solution protects the new campus in East Lothian .”

Iain Gray MSP, Labour’s Scottish Parliament leader who is also the MSP for East Lothian, said:

“The new campus in East Lothian was a great step forward for the county, allowing people to study locally to degree level. The new location must be preserved if any merger does go ahead.”

30 November 2008