Labour claims Scottish student debt has leapt by over £200m

The Labour Party has claimed that student debt in Scotland has risen by more than £200m during the Scottish National Party's (SNP) first year in government.

It quotes new statistics that show student debt increased by 8.9% during that period to reach over £2bn.

Claire Baker, Labour's Higher Education and Student Support spokesperson, said these figures suggest that the SNP's promise to write off student debt and replace loans with grants was simply empty rhetoric.

She added that students in England are able to access £1,500 more a year in financial support than those north of the border, leaving Scottish students more vulnerable to credit card and loan debts.

'The SNP gave false hope to students and graduates at the last election and since coming to power have failed to live up to their election promises,' Ms Baker stated.

In April of this year the SNP came under fire for giving postgraduate students incorrect information about their graduate endowment fee.