Staff and student unions have welcomed the decision by Scottish government on how to allocate an extra pound;30 million in support for university students, while stressing the sum is not enough. Some 75,900 students in hardship will see their incomes increase, including the poorest students on the young students’ bursary (an estimated 40,700). But this will be done largely by increasing the maximum level of the student loan by pound;442, to reduce reliance on high-cost commercial loans. The SNP’s manifesto had pledged to replace loans with grants, a policy it has been forced to ditch.