Chamber and committees

The Fresh Talent: Working inScotland scheme will enable non-EEA nationals who havesuccessfully completed an HND, degree course, Masters or PhD at a Scottish universityor college to apply to stay in Scotland for upto two years after completing their studies to seek and take work without requiringa work permit. We are intending to launch the scheme in summer 2005. Students arenot able to apply for the scheme until it is launched.

The data held by the Scottish Executive are obtained from a voluntary survey of leavers from full-time courses atScottish higher education institutions which is conducted for the Higher EducationStatistics Agency (HESA). The survey is conducted around six months after graduation.At present there are no follow-up surveys at longer intervals after graduation.

The survey covers all studentsof nationalities within the European Union who have successfully completed theircourse.

The table gives the percentagesof responding graduates from Scottish higher education institutions who were employedin Scotland six months after graduating, for the years 1998-99 to2002-03.

As the survey is voluntary, notall graduates respond. However, response rates are quite high, ranging between 76%and 84% in the period 1998-99 to 2002-03. Estimates of the numbers of graduatesin permanent and temporary employment in Scotland have been calculated on the assumption that those whodo not respond are as likely to be in employment in Scotland as thosewho do respond. The estimates should, therefore, be treated with some caution.

First Destination ofGraduates from Higher Education Institutions by Level of Qualification Obtained:1998-99 to 2002-03

Year	Permanent Employment in Scotland (% of Respondents)	Temporary Employment in Scotland (% of Respondents)	Numbers of Graduates1	Estimated Number in Permanent Employment in Scotland2	Estimated Number in Temporary Employment in Scotland2
Total
1998-99	36	10	38,800	13,950	3,900
1999-2000	36	11	42,310	15,250	4,650
2000-01	38	11	41,730	15,850	4,600
2001-02	35	18	44,105	15,450	7,950
2002-03	38	17	44,350	16,850	7,550
Postgraduate
1998-99	37	10	10,615	3,950	1,050
1999-2000	38	12	12,870	4,900	1,550
2000-01	40	12	12,110	4,850	1,450
2001-02	20	46	12,520	2,500	5,750
2002-03	30	38	13,595	4,100	5,150
First Degree
1998-99	33	11	24,930	8,250	2,750
1999-2000	35	12	25,630	8,950	3,100
2000-01	36	11	25,905	9,350	2,850
2001-02	35	15	26,260	9,200	3,950
2002-03	37	15	25,950	9,600	3,900
Sub Degree
1998-99	64	4	3,260	2,100	150
1999-00	47	5	3,810	1,800	200
2000-01	59	5	3,710	2,200	200
2001-02	53	4	5,325	2,800	200
2002-03	56	6	4,805	2,700	300

Source: Higher Education StatisticsAgency.

Notes:

1. Numbers have been roundedto the nearest five. Numbers may not sum to totals exactly due to rounding.

2. Numbers have been roundedto the nearest 50. Numbers may not sum to totals exactly due to rounding.

More information on graduatesfrom higher education courses and their destinations can be found in the Scottish Executive publication available at the following website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00388-00.asp.

The data are obtained from avoluntary survey of leavers from full-time courses at Scottish higher educationinstitutions which is conducted for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA),as explained in the answer to question S2W-16061, answered on 27 April 2005. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The table contains the informationreferred to in your question.

Scottish domiciled graduatesfrom Scottish higher education institutions that are in permanent employment sixmonths after graduation: percentage with employment in Scotland: 1999-2000to 2002-03:

Academic Year	Percentage with Employment in Scotland
1999-2000	79
2000-01	85
2001-02	87
2002-03	89

 

I refer the member to the answersto question S2W-16063 on 27 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I have made clear that theproposals for the Gourock to Dunoon route will not be taken any further untilthe discussions with the European Commission on the need to tender the Clyde and Hebridesferry services have been completed and I have reported back to the Scottish Parliament. If, following that process, a decision is made to resume theprocess of seeking an operator willing to run the service on a commercialbasis, information packs, including details of berthing charges at Gourock Pierand other information relating to the operation of the service, will be madeavailable to potential operators and they will be invited to submit theirproposals.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15542 on 22 April 2005. 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/webapp/wa.search.

Subject to the necessary planningpermissions and other consents being secured, work on these projects is scheduledfor completion by March 2007. Work on site has yet to start in each case.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15284 on 13 April 2005. 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/webapp/wa.search.

There are a range of measures of inflation on the economy – the Consumer Price Index is one that is used for measuring the change in the prices of consumer goods and services. We will continue to use the appropriate measure for the individual issue being considered. We do not produce general guidance on the use of inflation measures, though we work closely with public bodies and agencies to ensure that best practice is followed when designing, implementing, and evaluating policies.

Arrangements are currently being made for me to meet with Commissioner Hubner when range of issues will be discussed, particularly the future of European Structural Funds after 2006.