Abolition of the Scottish Funding Council Board

That the Parliament recognises the key role and legal status of the current Scottish Funding Council board with regard to the financial and strategic management of Scotland's colleges and universities; is deeply concerned by the Scottish Government's proposals to abolish the board, given the limited evidence and consultation on this proposal; notes the proposals in The Crerar Review, which recommend that the Scottish Government should retain the current board; demands that the Scottish Funding Council retains its important functions beyond enterprise and skills, and therefore believes that the Scottish Funding Council must not just be a "delivery board" but also have the powers to act on its own initiative and to challenge government as well as to challenge further and higher education institutions.