SCOTLAND'S higher education institutions should be able to "take the lead" in delivering initiatives to improve access to students from poorer backgrounds, a body representing the country's universities has said.

Universities Scotland said it had welcomed a recent report which recommended appointing a widening access tsar and a string of other measures to make higher education more accessible to those from deprived backgrounds, but warned they must remain "at the heart" of any changes.

Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that the SNP will implement the recommendations of the Widening Access Commission, including appointing a Commissioner for Fair Access, if the party is re-elected next month.

The commissioner will recommend annually to the Scottish Government whether or not it should use powers to impose widening access on any institution if, in the view of the Commissioner, a university is not making sufficient progress. Such a move would be likely to prove controversial, which universities traditionally resistant to politicians interfering in how they are run.

It is hoped that by 2030, students from the 20 per cent most deprived areas make up 20 per cent of higher education entrants, with the Scottish Government coming under fire for slow progress in narrowing the gap between those coming from poorer areas and students from wealthier backgrounds.

A spokesman for Universities Scotland said: "Universities welcomed the Commission’s report on access and will engage with all of the challenges it lays out. Principals are keen to sit down with Government to discuss it in detail at the first opportunity. We’ve already made this approach.

"The Commission started as a holistic and inclusive process and it should remain so as we move into implementation. There is a lot to consider within the recommendations and it will be very important that universities are right at the heart of it. Where the recommendations point to universities, as the majority do, we believe they should remain empowered to take the lead, working with Government."

The report and its recommendations will top the agenda when principals of Scotland's universities meet today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Access to university has been improving but we all know there is more we can do. The Commission on Widening Access has set out challenging targets that an SNP government will act on.

"I want to see universities, colleges and the entire education system embrace these recommendations and take steps to improve access to university.

"To ensure there is no complacency we will appoint a Commissioner for Fair Access to be an advocate for change across the whole of the sector. If the Commissioner finds universities that are not delivering on their commitments then they should be able to recommend that the Scottish Government use the powers we have to impose change on universities."

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour said it would would keep tuition free while increasing the young student bursary by about £900, while the independent student bursary - paid to those who are no longer dependent on their parents - would rise by around £180.

Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said his party would provide £30 million of new bursary funding to help students, and would increase the point at which people have to start repaying their student loans from the current threshold of £17,495 to £21,000.