The university said it had invested significantly in Dumfries

Dumfries and Galloway Labour MP Russell Brown has sought a detailed breakdown of a reported �800,000-a-year deficit at the south west Scotland site.

He said he feared the decision had already been taken to quit Dumfries.

A statement from the university insisted it was "hard to understand" how it could be argued that it received sufficient funds to remain in the town.

Mr Brown said he was concerned that there was more to the situation than met the eye.

The real picture would seem to be that the Crichton is running at a small deficit, but not to the level which has led to the threats of having to pull out of Dumfries Russell Brown MP

"I think it brings into question Glasgow University's fundamental commitment to the Crichton campus," he said.

"I have real concerns about how the university reached the figure of an �800,000 annual deficit.

"The real picture would seem to be that the Crichton is running at a small deficit, but not to the level which has led to the threats of having to pull out of Dumfries."

The Scottish Funding Council has previously insisted it provided the university with enough funding to run the Crichton.

Pay concerns

The institution has also been criticised by South of Scotland SNP MSP Alasdair Morgan for awarding its principal Muir Russell a pay rise above the rate of inflation.

"Glasgow University have really shot themselves in the foot by awarding the principal such a lavish pay rise at the same time as they are complaining about operating deficits," he said.

However, the university insisted its commitment to the campus could not be questioned.

We are quite prepared to maintain what we provide at Crichton now, but only if it is funded at a level that enables it to break even University of Glasgow statement

"The University of Glasgow has put a lot into Crichton, in terms of resources, good people and management effort," said a statement.

"But it has always been seen as something additional to the university's core business in Glasgow."

The statement said that SFC funding for 88 additional placements in the Crichton was well below a viable level.

Additional funding

The university added that it had expected funding to build as numbers grew and had continued to make the case for extra funding.

"Against this background, it is hard to understand the argument that we actually receive sufficient resources to fund the cost of Crichton," said the statement.

"We are quite prepared to maintain what we provide at Crichton now, but only if it is funded at a level that enables it to break even."