87.Section 20 of the 2005 Act sets out certain matters that the Council must have regard to in exercising its statutory functions as a whole. This includes, under subsection (1), skills needs in Scotland, issues affecting the economy of Scotland, and social and cultural issues in Scotland.
88.Section 22 of this Act qualifies the meaning of the term “skills needs” to include any requirement or desirability for skills or knowledge which appears to the Council to exist for the time being, or to be likely to exist in the future, and to be capable of being addressed by the provision of programmes of training for employment, Scottish apprenticeships or work-based learning – in addition to further education or higher education. Section 22 of the Act also qualifies the meaning of the term “issues” in section 20 of the 2005 Act in the same way.
Commentary on Provisions Part 2 – Functions of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council Section 22: Consideration of skills needs and socio-economic issues