Increased university funding 'not preventing inequality' says academic 3 May 2013 Last updated at 17:52 By Raymond Buchanan BBC Scotland political correspondent Increased funding for universities in Scotland is tending to "cement inequality not prevent inequality," according to an educational academic. Professor Sheila Riddell made the claim during a conference hosted by the Economic and Social Research Council. She highlighted research showing 5% of pupils in Scotland go to private schools but they represent 25% of students at ancient universities. The Scottish government said it was working to widen access. In Scotland, upfront tuition fees were ended in 2001 and their successor - the £2,289 graduate endowment - was scrapped in 2008. Professor Riddell, who is director of the Centre for Research in Education Inclusion and Diversity at the University of Edinburgh, told the conference there was "no evidence that Scottish rejection of deferred fees has produced a more socially inclusive system." She also warned Scotland faces a potential academic crisis because few graduates can afford to pay for further study at Scottish universities. The leading academic said post-graduate places were taken up by overseas students who could afford to pay fees of between of £15,000 and £20,000 a year, but few were filled by students from Scotland. Professor Riddell warned this could lead to a potential "crisis" in the future with fewer suitably qualified Scottish academics able to take up university posts. A Scottish government spokesman said: "Scotland has a record number of higher education students and this has been made possible by the fact that we have a system based on ability to learn, not ability to pay. This is backed up by significant and increasing investment of over £1bn which is delivering an increased number of places for Scottish/EU students. We are working to widen access and will take action through the post-16 reform bill.