A leading academic has called for a rethink on how graduates contribute to the cost of university education.

Dr Andrew Cubie, who was involved in the 1999 investigation which led to the abolition of tuition fees in Scotland, asked whether it was "socially just" for those who gain the the most from a university education to receive it free.

The Scottish Government responded by saying that access to education in Scotland would be on an "ability to learn not ability to pay" basis.

Fiona Hyslop, Scotland's Education Secretary, said: "That's why we are scrapping the unfair and inefficient graduate endowment fee and putting more money into student support."

The SNP announced plans in June to scrap the graduate endowment fee. This £2,000 fee was paid by Scottish students after graduation.

Dr Cubie told BBC Scotland that he was not calling for a graduate tax. He said: "In a society which is still not able to allow those who are in primary and seconday education to reach their full potential, is it socially acceptable that those who have the advantage of getting tertiary education, with all the ensuing benefits, for free?

"I think if you look around the world there are many countries which seek a contribution from graduates in one way or another.

"After all, the graduate endowment anticipated, and did indeed, bring about a contribution from graduates for a particular purpose - to assist later students.

"The principle, if you like, was accepted at that stage of a graduate contribution. I think we have to look again at the ways in which that contribution might be made."

During the first Scottish Executive, Dr Cubie's report into education was a key part of higher education policy.

It recommended that students pay £3000 of their loan back after graduation but only when they began to earn more than £25,000 a year.

The SNP budget recently slashed university spending by only allocating £263m to higher education institutions in Scotland, far short of the £526 million univerisity leaders claimed to need.

Mrs Hyslop has defended the cuts, highlighting a pledge of £5.24bn to further and higher education over the next three years.

Despite this, Sir Muir Russel, the convener of Universities Scotland, commented: "The spending review announcement is a disappointing response to the strong case for investment in higher education made by universities.

"We are concerned that it may weaken our competitive position relative to universities in England."

Scottish higher education institutions had a total revenue of £1.9bn in 2004/5. They receive 51 per cent of their funding from public sources and 14 per cent from research contracts, consultancy, and other services.

Josh MacAlister, President of Edinburgh University Students Association, told The Journal: "While we may disagree with some of the content of his suggestions, the Students' Association totally backs a full and frank review which would also look at student support.

"Given the cuts that the SNP have put in place and the fact that student support levels in Scotland are so low, it's really important that resolving these funding problems is a priority."