I found the lead item in “A week in education” (November 12) regarding the student demonstration against tuition fees in England misleading.

The issue of tuition fees is one being debated at Westminster. The potential rise will affect Scottish students studying in England, but not those wishing to go on to a Scottish university. This is the current situation and it will remain unchanged.

The possibility of reintroducing tuition fees in Scotland is not up for discussion at Holyrood and is not an option which any Scottish party is looking to pursue. Scottish students studying in Scotland do not pay tuition fees and this will remain the case.

Ensuring that Scotland’s higher education sector remains competitive will be a real challenge; no one denies that. Whatever the outcome of the current discussions in Scotland, the Scottish Liberal Democrats remain committed to the principle of education based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay.

Margaret Smith MSP, Scottish Lib Dem spokesperson on education and young people, Scottish Parliament.