The decision to relieve the children of asylum seekers in Scotland of university tuition fees was welcomed yesterday by the ombudsman for young people.

A senior Labour politician had criticised the decision, claiming it could encourage asylum seekers to travel to Scotland or to resist deportation.

But elsewhere there was a widespread welcome for the move, revealed by The Herald yesterday.

It was confirmed that youngsters who have lived in Scotland for more than three years will be exempt from the tuition fees that foreign students have to pay to attend a Scottish university.

Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "We think it's important that Scotland takes responsibility for all children living here wherever they have come from and indeed why they have come here, to make sure they get the care and education that they deserve as children."

But Tom Harris, Labour MP for Glasgow South, said: "I think it's not been well thought out. I think it's based on a misunderstanding of the asylum process.

"I think it will undoubtedly create a magnet in Scotland for asylum seekers throughout the country. I think it will create an extra attraction for families who may be considering agreeing to removal back to their own countries in the event of their asylum case being removed.

"They may now think there may be special reasons to try and stay in the country rather than obey the law and be wilfully removed from the country."

However, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Kathleen Marshall, welcomed the announcement. She said: "The lack of access to higher education has been a big concern of the young people affected, many of whom have been in Scotland for several years.

"It is heartening, too, to see the intent to pursue the impact on children of dawn raids' and detention, as well as the explicit commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These are children first and asylum seekers second and it is important that we treat them as such."

Sue Fisher, Save the Children's assistant director for protection in Scotland, said: "Today's announcement is good news for asylum-seeking children and their parents. We are pleased that the Scottish government and Glasgow City Council are going to work together to do the best that they can for these children."

Jeremy Purvis, the young people's spokesman of the Liberal Democrats, said: "Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for a number of years to improve opportunities for those seeking asylum in Scotland. I hope the executive will now seek discussions with the UK government to secure the rights for those seeking asylum to have the opportunity to work in Scotland."

Ms Hyslop rebuffed the suggestion that the scheme would draw asylum seekers to Scotland, as students will have had to live in Scotland for three years to qualify for the tuition fee waiver.