SCOTLAND’S SNP government must urgently boost bursaries or almost a third of midwifery students could quit, according to a union report.

A poll of midwifery students in Scotland for the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) found that a staggering 60 per cent were concerned they would be forced to quit university as they struggle to cope with soaring rents and rocketing food and energy prices.

The report found that despite bursaries of £10,000 in years one and two and £7,500 in their final year, 70 per cent of students had to take on debt to fund their studies.