IAN Blackford used his questions in Westminster earlier today challenge the Prime Minister on student visas for EU citizens.
The SNP’s leader at Westminster said the Government will cut EU student visas to three years and that this would have a negative effect on people studying in Scotland as Scottish university courses often run for four years.
Under the cloud of Brexit, and despite being currently interlocked in debate over Theresa May’s Brexit deal, she and Jeremy Corbyn made little reference to it.
READ MORE: PMQs: Jeremy Corbyn says Theresa May's government has 'completely failed'
It took for the SNP’s leader at Westminster to raise one of the effects leaving the EU will have, namely the fees students from the bloc will have to pay.
"Scotland's First Minister has pledged to match free EU student fees through to 2021,” said Blackford.
"Will the Prime Minister follow this example, or is she determined to build a bigger hostile environment?"
The PM said an announcement had been made for the upcoming year and would be for future years in due course.
"We have made clear about the position for EU students in this year and we will make the announcements in good time for students for future years," she said.
"But I think I am right in saying what the Scottish Government has actually done is said that EU students can have free tuition up to 2024, but English students will have to pay."
Blackford said: "Quite remarkable, because it is the Tories that have introduced fees for English students."
Blackford then pointed out that cutting EU student visas to three years wouldn't work for Scotland as most degrees run for four years.
“The Scottish Government and Scottish universities have asked repeatedly for this simple change to be made to reflect our circumstances," she added.
May replied: "I understand the situation is not quite as problematic for those students as you set out, given the ability to convert these."
May added that the SNP should spend more time "improving the quality of education in Scotland, and less time obsessing about independence".
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