Chamber and committees

The Cabinet Secretary gave evidence to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 2 September 2008 with regards to the Education (Means Testing) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008, and agreed to share information on the use of discretionary funds by institutions to support individuals who find themselves in hardship. The Cabinet Secretary further advised the committee on 18 February 2009 that the changes to the means test have not had any significant adverse effect on students.

The evidence would therefore suggest that the changes to the means test are not affecting drop-out rates and therefore no further research is planned at this time. We will of course continue to monitor this situation on an on-going basis.

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland applications reflect the eligibility criteria as set out in the Students'' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2007/ssi_20070153_en_1.

There are currently no plans to review the eligibility criteria for the Student Awards Agency for Scotland applications.

Discussions with stakeholders are taking place on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in 2010. There is an active stakeholder group set up to influence and inform the UK programme. This group began meeting in February 2009. The group includes the Poverty Alliance, who represent a wide range of Scottish organisations and function as the national anti-poverty network in Scotland. This group will continue to play an active role in informing and influencing the programme of work currently being developed.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23984 on 26 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I am currently reviewing options for the future development of mobile homes policy in Scotland. I will make an announcement shortly.

Skills Development Scotland allocates apprenticeship places in response to demand from employers rather than on a geographic basis. Final allocations to training providers are based on discussions with local partners, employer intelligence and previous provider performance. For 2009-10 there has been no specific increase in the number of places made available in North Ayrshire.

Our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland''s international air connectivity has two elements: maintaining and developing Scotland''s profile within the airline sector, including at global events such as the World Route Development Forum, and the provision of market intelligence and data to airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to sustain new direct international air services. In implementing our strategy we work closely with Scotland''s airport operators.

The Scottish Government has implemented the provisions of the Police and Justice Act 2006 which amend the Computer Misuse Act 1990. These ensure that there are adequate and more effective penalties for the offence of unauthorised access to computer material, and that there is adequate provision to criminalise all forms of denial of service attacks, to reflect the seriousness of these activities. These changes are in line with the EU Framework Decision on Attacks Against Information Systems, and the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention.

Data supplied by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service indicates that to date, there has been one case identified where a person has been proceeded against in relation to sex trafficking offences under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 but no convictions. Most cases related to sex trafficking have been prosecuted as immigration or prostitution offences.

A 2008 analysis of prosecutions in relation to sex trafficking cases uncovered as a result of the national police led Operation Pentameter 2 (which ran from October 2007 to March 2008) indicated that 18 people had been convicted of offences including trading in prostitution; attempting to pervert the course of justice and offences under the Identity Cards Act 2006 and the Immigration Act 1971 and that sentences ranging from imprisonment to financial penalties have been imposed. There were no prosecutions for trafficking offences due to insufficient evidence.

Within the total jobs created by the European funding announced on 18 April 2009, projects including North Ayrshire in their coverage have indicated that they will create a total of almost 1,100 jobs.