Chamber and committees

The Code of Construction Practice allows for 24 hour working on marine works, which has and continues to take place other than planned shut downs at holiday periods and as a result of adverse weather. For non-marine works, the total number of approved hours on Sundays is 698 and relate predominantly to the principal contract concrete batching plant in Rosyth docks, and some overnight works on Fife ITS and M9 Junction 1a for gantry erection and asphalting. The actual number of hours worked of the approved total is not recorded centrally.

The Fife ITS scheme was completed in November 2012.

The M9 Junction 1a scheme was completed six weeks ahead of schedule in February 2013.

The Contact and Education Centre was completed in December 2012.

The principal contract for the Queensferry Crossing is programmed for completion by the end of 2016.

Following the on-schedule completion of the Fife ITS and Contact and Education Centre contracts, and the early completion of the M9 Junction 1a contract, the principal contract remains on schedule to complete by the end of 2016.

The Code of Construction Practice allows for 24 hour working on marine works, which has and continues to take place other than planned shut downs at holiday periods and as a result of adverse weather. No applications have been made for working hours extensions for exceptional works.

The material to which this question refers relates to college provision in the current academic year. Data for that is not available for some time. For that reason, the previous answer makes clear our commitment to maintain full-time equivalent places, the measure most closely associated with the volume of funded learning, is being delivered.

Changes to the pattern of enrolments across the sector are explained by colleges choosing to focus activity on more intensive learning for young people. As the previous answer also makes clear, that approach is delivering very significant benefits for Scotland and our economy.

The Scottish Funding Council is currently discussing the details of the new model with the sector. I have asked its Interim Chief Executive to write to you to confirm the timetable.

Colleges are delivering our commitment to maintain FTE student places, exceeding our target by 3% in 11-12.

Moreover, the number of FTE funded places in the Glasgow region in 2011-12 was 25,940, an increase of 1,188 on three years previously (2008-09)

Consistent with the aims of priorities for reform, colleges are focussing on full-time courses for young people that deliver skills for employment and economic growth. That policy is working, only 10 of 28 EU countries have a lower youth unemployment rate than Scotland.

Moreover, college principals made clear in their evidence to the Public Audit Committee on 6 November that regionalisation is delivering benefits, such as improved quality learning.

As stated in the Scottish Government’s International Framework we will raise human rights where and when appropriate. I raised issues relating to freedom of artistic expression and human rights during my recent brief visit to Qatar. No specific cases were mentioned on this occasion.

Under the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will be the regional strategic body for the Highlands and Islands region. In its related Working Group report, UHI proposed that it would establish a committee to undertake this function.

Ministers have no powers to make appointments to the University or any of its committees and a public appointment process will not therefore apply in this region.

Work on the reclassification of colleges as Central Government Bodies is overseen by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The SFC’s primary focus is to allow college reserves and surpluses to continue to be deployed for the benefit of the sector.