WHEN Audit Scotland’s report on the college sector was published in June, one conclusion particularly stood out: student numbers had decreased in 2015/16 and the student population was at its lowest since 2006/07.

However, it has now emerged that, worrying as it was, Audit Scotland’s conclusion was in fact a watered down version of what was originally in the report. The first draft was much harder hitting and included a reference to a 41 per cent drop in the student headcount since 2008 – a reference which was removed at the suggestion of Scottish Government officials.

The Government says it was merely providing clarification, but the revelation is disturbing. Audit Scotland exists to provide independent assurance to taxpayers that public money is being well spent and it should be free to give that assurance – or not – in its own words.

The fact that the Government wanted the changes it did also suggests it is still trying to play down what is really going on in the college sector. The Audit Scotland report said that the sector is financially relatively stable. But public spending cuts and the mergers process have had a serious impact on staffing levels and morale, student numbers, and the availability of learning and courses, and no one should seek to deny that or play it down – least of all the Scottish Government.