Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Jeremy Purvis MSP has demanded an apology from the SNP over rising student debt.

Figures from the Student Loans Company show that that the total balance outstanding - including loans not yet due for repayment - at the end of the last financial year was £2.052.5 billion, which is a rise of 11 per cent.

Commenting, Mr Purvis said:

“The SNP gave a promise to students in Scotland that they would write off student debt. The SNP owe Scottish students an apology.

“They promised repeatedly that all student debt would be dumped. But after a year in office, they are now presiding over an increase in the very student debt that they had promised to write off.”