ALMOST half of Scotland’s colleges are in deficit, auditors warned today as they called on the Scottish government to provide “clarity” on funding.

The latest report on the sector from Auditor General Stephen Boyle shows that, following years of cuts and despite almost 500 staff being lost through voluntary redundancy schemes in 2022-23 alone, 11 of of the 14 colleges lost money in that year — three more than the year before.

And the financial outlook shows no sign of improving, as a freeze on SNP Scottish government funding at £675.7 million over the last three years, a time of high inflation, has given way to a cash cut to £643m this year.