 | 'We did not expect the Government to increase the debt burden on graduates, but rather to reduce it.' Graeme MacAuley, President of Edinburgh University Student's Association, on the watering down of the Cubie recommendations, 25 th January 2000. |  |
| 'We did not expect the Government to increase the debt burden on graduates, but rather to reduce it.' Graeme MacAuley, President of Edinburgh University Student's Association, on the watering down of the Cubie recommendations, 25 th January 2000. | |
The date has been fixed by Presiding Officer Sir David Steel, who considered experimenting by holding the poll on a Saturday.
This would have reduced disruption to schools and may have increased the turnout.
Sir David said: "However, the position as to the legality of holding a poll on a Saturday is unclear and I am not prepared to take a risk with such an important event.
"I am still keen to pursue the possibility of a Saturday date for any future by-election we may have and for that reason I have written to Dr John Reid, Secretary of State for Scotland, drawing attention to the subordinate legislation which appears to prevent a Saturday poll."
The by-election has been caused by the resignation of Labour's Ian Welsh, who won the seat last May by just 25 votes over the Tories.
27 th January 2000
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