The Scottish Executive's proposals

* The abolition of tuition fees for all Scottish full-time higher education students in Scotland from autumn 2000, a year earlier than Cubie recommended.

* The abolition of tuition fees for all Scottish full-time further education students.

* The Scottish Executive will make up the Pounds 42 million shortfall in university and college incomes.

* Other new arrangements for Scottish students in Scotland to begin in 2001.

* Access payments of up to Pounds 2,000 for students from low-

income families.

* A graduate endowment payment of Pounds 2,000 to help fund more maintenance for students under-represented in higher education.

* Graduates to begin endowment payments when income tops Pounds 10,000, to be collected through the student loans system.

* No graduates to pay more in loan and endowment payments than they do now, 9 per cent of income over Pounds 10,000.

* Parental contributions for some better-off families may rise, but all students will get a minimum loan of Pounds 750. The rest will be means-tested.

* Almost 50 per cent of students to be exempt from endowment payments, including all mature students, lone parents, students with disabilities and HNC/HND students.

* European Union students in Scotland will pay no fees and will be expected to contribute to the endowment fund. EU students in England will continue to be means-tested for tuition fees.

* The new arrangements will not apply to Scottish students studying elsewhere in the UK.