THE introduction of tuition fees for university students was op-posed by the assembly yesterday.

It also backed its board of education's move to endorse the view that higher education at under-graduate level should be free at the point of delivery and that the State should provide funding: for example, either by increased personal taxation or by increasing corporate taxation, or both.

Presenting the board's report, convener Andrew Blake said: ''When a child starts school at five years of age the community readily accepts that this provision should be available free. For school pupils who continue beyond the statutory leaving age of 16, there is little dissent that the community should also pay for this stage.

''Why then should the principle change when the student enters higher education? Sometimes we feel the debate confuses the issue of State funded education with that of student maintenance.''

q The leader of the Iona Community attacked the ''fundamentally racist and socially divisive character'' of Britain's immigration policy. The Rev Norman Shanks called for urgent repeal and reform of immigration and nationality laws.

Addressing the assembly during a debate on the report of the Iona Community Board, Mr Shanks said: ''There is a clear Christian imperative towards hospitality and justice. We call, therefore, for a new, inclusive British Nationality Act that will create confidence and a sense of security and belonging for minorities in a plural society.''

q The Kirk is facing a question of morale which is not helped when it publicly puts a time on its own demise, the assembly was told.

Delivering the report of the board of ministry, the Rev George Whyte, convener, said the ministry was not immune from ''this erosion of confidence''.

''To that end the whole Church and not just its specialist committees needs to affirm the contribution of its ministers and perhaps to rediscover the distinctiveness of that calling.''

During the debate on the board's report, the Rev Cliff Rennie, of Larbert, called for a detailed look at the issue of stress on ministers. The move failed.

q The horror of the Bosnian conflict was vividly described by the convener of the Kirk's chaplains' committee. Describing a visit to the region, the Rev John Cairns said: ''I saw things and heard things there that I wish I had never seen and I had never heard.'' It was against such backgrounds that the chaplains endeavoured to perform their duties, he said.

The Bosnian conflict was also touched on by Admiral Sir Jock Slater who paid tribute to the work of the padres in such difficult circumstances. He also welcomed the appointment of the first Church of Scotland chaplain to the fleet, the Rev Charles Stewart.