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The Association of Scottish Colleges has praised the Scottish Executive's "vitally important" proposals of Pounds 6 million towards part-time further education students' childcare costs.

Tom Kelly, the ASC's chief executive, also welcomed consultation on harmonising means-testing for further and higher education.

"At the moment, the further education system of assessment is much harsher on those contributing than the one used in higher education, and the level of support is lower," he said.

"Hopefully this consultation will mean that in the longer term, people will find it much easier to make sense of one system that treats all students fairly."