Union warns Dewar on 3,000 job losses

Scotland could lose up to 3,000 jobs, 1,500 of them in higher education, unless the Government backs off from its predecessor's public spending plans, the Association of University Teachers Scotland will today warn Scottish secretary Donald Dewar. The AUTS has based its calculations on the McNicoll report on the impact of the higher education sector on the Scottish economy, which shows that every administrative or professional university post generates jobs outside the sector as well as internal support posts.

The AUTS hopes its meeting with Mr Dewar on higher education funding will persuade the Scottish Office not to impose a 6 per cent cut in real terms next year.