Liam Burns, President of NUS Scotland, said:
"After today's vote, it's clear that every party in Scotland is opposed to the reintroduction of tuition fees in Scotland. With the Scottish Parliament elections only a stone's throw away, we can now move on to the really challenging debate of how we get student support above the poverty line and ensure university funding is sustainable. As NUS Scotland has asked for a number of years now, parties from across the Scottish Parliament have now agreed that tuition fees have no place in that debate.
Commenting on the damage increased top-up fees could cause in Scotland, he said:
"We know how unfair top-up fees are and more importantly we know the damage any increase would cause to Scotland's students and institutions. It's great to see Scottish politicians from across all parties making it clear that protecting Scottish students is their priority.
"Just before the election all Scottish Lib Dem MPs signed NUS Scotland's pledge to vote against any increase in top up fees including Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Michael Moore, the new Scottish Secretary. However within days of going into government Lib Dems have threatened to u-turn on this vital promise to students.
"The Scottish Liberal Democrats in particular should be congratulated in outlining their opposition to any increase in top-up fees in the rest of the UK, coming out publicly against the Westminster coalition government's policy. However let's be clear, Scottish Lib Dem MPs promised to vote for students, not abstain for students. If Lib Dems in Westminster don't vote against increased fees in the rest of the UK, then don't expect students in Scotland to trust Lib Dems in Holyrood come May 2011."