Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
22 June 2006
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
SNP Welcome College Funding Success
Alex Salmond MP and Stewart Stevenson MSP have welcomed the response to their calls for funding to be provided that would ensure the continuity of fishing related training courses at Banff & Buchan College of Further Education.
Following a crisis meeting with the College Principal on 6th April Alex Salmond, Stewart Stevenson, Shadow Scottish Fisheries Minister, Richard Lochhead MSP, and local councillor, Brian Topping, the SNP Leader initiated a range of actions to secure the funding required by the college.
Commenting from Westminster, Alex Salmond said:
“I am extremely pleased to hear that Banff & Buchan College has now been assured of the funding that will be required to securing the immediate continuity of fishing related training at the College - and I congratulate everybody involved.
“We have all been working extremely hard to enable this to come about. We do, however, intend to continue with our dialogue between Banff & Buchan College and the Scottish Funding Council to ensure the long term sustainability of these courses - and to address the general question of funding for the rural colleges.
“Stewart Stevenson and I are due to hold a meeting with the Chairman of the Scottish Funding Council at Banff & Buchan College on 4th July, at which we will discuss these proposals in detail, with a view to ensuring that we do not have a repetition of such a crisis.”.
“However, this recent announcement is extremely positive, and provides a sound platform for constructive talks.”
Speaking from Holyrood, Stewart Stevenson added:
“From the outset of this crisis it seemed bizarre that the fishing capital of Europe should not be supported by local courses, and it seems that good sense has now prevailed.”
Local SNP councillor Brian Topping concluded:
“I am very pleased that Fraserburgh will be in a position to continue the provision of these courses, which is the only college on the Scottish mainland in a position to do so.”
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