Party managers in Scotland's coalition government have been preparing plans to head off any crisis over tuition fees, according to reports.

The Scottish Labour and Liberal Democrat alliance could face its toughest test yet when the Cubie Committee into student finance publishes its findings on Tuesday.

The Lib Dems have pledged to scrap the tuition fees but Labour has insisted they must stay.

A split on the issue, which remained the key area of contention when the parties reached their coalition deal in July, could see Labour exposed in the Scottish Parliament after its failure to gain an overall majority in the May elections.

However, it has been reported that Labour and the Lib Dem chiefs would seek to redefine the terms of the partnership agreement if serious divisions remained over the fees issue.

'Fire-fighting operation'

A team of senior officials from both parties has been selected effectively to perform a fire-fighting operation if the report sparks hostilities, according to The Scotsman newspaper.

The newspaper said the group would seek to accommodate both parties, who would face a massive challenge given that ministers in the coalition have been bound to the principle of collective responsibility.

There has been speculation that the committee, chaired by leading businessman Andrew Cubie, would recommend that fees stay but that payment be deferred until after graduation.

It has also been predicted that hardship grants would be reintroduced for the least well off students to widen access.

While Labour hopes the proposals win support from the Lib Dems, one senior Labour source said the party was not prepared for a deal at any price.

He said that if the coalition collapsed, Labour would still be in government while the Lib Dems would not.

Lib Dems 'still united'

Lib Dem sources said they were still united in their traditional opposition to fees and predicted that if they did cave in they would lose votes at the next general election.

The Conservatives' education spokesman Brian Monteith MSP, called on the Lib Dems to "hold firm" on their policy.

"The Liberal MSPs have now have the chance to live up to their election promise to abolish tuition fees. Any Liberal MSP worth their manifesto pledge must vote against this proposal," he said.

"I urge them not to sell their principles on this issue simply to maintain the coalition. That would be a sell-out of the Scottish people.