- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of mature students (aged 26 and over) in full time higher education in Scotland in each of the last ten academic years.
Answer
The information is not readily available in the form or time period requested. The definition of mature students used in Scotland is normally those aged 25+. The data available is provided:
Mature1 Students in Full Time Higher Education2 in Scotland
| Total |
| 1994-95 | 32,961 |
| 1995-96 | 34,447 |
| 1996-97 | 37,713 |
| 1997-98 | 38,053 |
1
Students aged 25 and over.2 Includes all students on postgraduate, first degree and sub degree Higher Education courses.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify in constant terms, the amount spent on the mature students allowance in Scotland in each of the ten years prior to its abolition.
Answer
The information in response to this question is given below and refers to expenditure funded by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) on mature students allowances, paid to Scottish Domiciled students.
Table : Amount paid by SAAS on Mature Students Allowance
| | Expenditure1 |
| | £m |
| 1984-85 | 2.0 |
| 1985-86 | 2.0 |
| 1986-87 | 2.0 |
| 1987-88 | 2.2 |
| 1988-89 | 2.2 |
| 1989-90 | 2.5 |
| 1990-91 | 2.9 |
| 1991-92 | 4.2 |
| 1992-93 | 5.7 |
| 1993-94 | 7.5 |
| 1994-95 2 | 8.9 |
| 1995-96 3 | 6.0 |
| 1996-97 3 | 3.4 |
| 1997-98 3 | 1.5 |
| 1998-99 3 | 0.5 |
1
Expenditure amounts have been adjusted by Treasury GDP Deflator to 1998-99 figures.2
Last year of mature students allowance for new students3 Students with reserved rights
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of expenditure, adjusted for inflation, on the dependents' allowance for students in higher education in Scotland in each of the last ten years.
Answer
I refer Mr Gorrie to the answer in PQ S1W-1101
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total numbers of higher education students in Scotland in each of the last ten years who (a) were in receipt of dependants' allowance, and (b) had child dependants.
Answer
The information in response to this questions is given below and refers to Scottish Domiciled students.
It is not possible to determine which students in receipt of dependents allowance had child dependents.
Table : Student who received Dependents Allowance and Total Amount Spent
| | No of Students | Expenditure1 |
| | | £m |
1988-89 | 1,735 | 4.2 |
1989-90 | 2,047 | 4.8 |
1990-91 | 2,317 | 5.3 |
1991-92 | 3,129 | 7.3 |
1992-93 | 3,993 | 9.3 |
1993-94 | 5,174 | 12.1 |
1994-95 | 5,927 | 13.9 |
1995-96 | 6,175 | 14.3 |
1996-97 | 6,260 | 14.4 |
1997-98 | 6,325 | 14.8 |
1998-99 | 6,538 | 14.9 |
1 Expenditure amounts have been adjusted by all items Retail Price Index (RPI) to 1998-99 figures.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of expenditure, adjusted for inflation, on the standard maintenance allowance in Scotland in each of the ten years before its abolition.
Answer
The information available is given.
Table: Amount of Expenditure on the Standard Maintenance Allowance in Scotland: 1988-89 to 1998-99
| Amount of Expenditure1 |
| £M |
| 1988-89 | 107.1 |
| 1989-90 | 111.2 |
| 1990-91 | 114.6 |
| 1991-92 | 134.2 |
| 1992-93 | 151.5 |
| 1993-94 | 174.3 |
| 1994-95 | 167.4 |
| 1995-96 | 152.3 |
| 1996-97 | 136.4 |
| 1997-98 | 120.2 |
| 1998-99 | 95.6 |
1
The Expenditure amounts have been adjusted by the all items Retail Price Index (RPI) to 1998-99 prices.There is a known discontinuity after 1991-92 with the inclusion of full-time HNC courses in the Student Awards Scheme for the first time. Expenditure in latter years decreases as a result of the move from a grants based system to a loans based system
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of student award holders receiving Disabled Students' Allowance in each of the past ten years.
Answer
I refer Mr Gorrie to the answer in PQ S1W-1099.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 3 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the importance for voluntary youth bodies of it paying the proposed #10 charge for police checks on people working with young people.
Answer
The intention is that the system of criminal record checks provided under part V of the Police Act 1997 should be self financing. However, we recognise the concerns of the voluntary sector on the proposed charges, and we are keeping the position under review.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the importance for voluntary youth bodies of it paying the proposed #10 charge for police checks on people working with young people.
Answer
The intention is that the system of criminal record checks provided under part V of the Police Act 1997 should be self financing. However, we recognise the concerns of the voluntary sector on the proposed charges, and we are keeping the position under review.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding any changes required in the rules and conventions governing civil servants because of their involvement in attending committees of the Scottish Parliament.
Answer
The Civil Service Code has already been adjusted to take account of devolution. Subject to the terms of the code, matters relating to the conduct of civil servants, including their appearance before Committees of the Scottish Parliament, are within the delegated responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 12 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to Her Majesty's Government about changes proposed in the postal service, in particular about how these changes will affect postal services in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government over a range of matters, including those relating to the Post Office.
