The Welsh Assembly government has pledged to subsidise Welsh students, ensuring the individual pays no more than £3,000 a year wherever they study. The Northern Ireland administration is also expected to offer some level of subsidy. Crucially, non-Scottish students from elsewhere in the European Union are also exempt from tuition fees in Scotland. Phil Shiner, a campaigning lawyer, has argued that the Scottish system violates the European Convention on Human Rights and, potentially, Britain's Equalities Act. He has said he will issue formal proceedings against the Scottish ministers as soon as possible.