Commenting after the Education Secretary gave a statement on Higher and Further Education Governance, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for the North East, Alison McInnes said:
Alison McInnes MSP"Obviously Michael Russell thinks he knows better than College Principals on how to run their colleges.
"Colleges are being put under central diktat as the Scottish Government tries to grab all the power to the centre. First it was our local police forces, now we are seeing it with our colleges.
"I am particularly concerned by the proposals to siphon off what are judged to be excess college reserves. In many cases colleges will have carefully built up their reserves as part of plans to undertake particular local projects or improvements.
"The Cabinet Secretary denied that this proposal was on the table but the report from Professor Griggs couldn't be clearer. Either Mr Russell has not read this report or he is trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
"Colleges are already facing budget cuts thanks to SNP choices and now they face having most of their reserves taken away and used by central Government.
"Instead of shouting down anyone who dares challenge him, the Education Secretary needs to come clean and tell colleges what the SNP's plans will actually mean for their budgets and reserves."