Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

SPS has assessed the privately-managed HMP Kilmarnock as offering excellent value for money.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9031 on 4 September 2000.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

Our new staff attendance system will enable our staff resources to be used more effectively and efficiently. It has been discussed with our trade union representatives since spring 1998. We have rescheduled the start to the autumn rather than 1 September to enable a final period for discussion to take place, but we have told them that the status quo is not acceptable as SPS needs to make significant efficiency improvements to become competitive and thus improve job security.

Our Absence Management Procedure, which will start on 15 October, has been developed fully in partnership with our Trade Union Side. We believe that the new procedure will improve SPS's poor sickness absence record.

Its main features are:

• takes account of the ACAS advisory booklet - discipline at work;
• supportive home contacts whilst absent;
• supportive return to work meetings held on each occasion of sick absence;
• occupational health advice and support;
• three separate periods of sick absence; or nine days sick absence or any discernible pattern of sick absence in a rolling 12 months period will be formally managed;
• more than 21 consecutive days sick absence qualify as long-term sickness;

employees have the right to make representation, be represented and of appeal against any decision made in the formal procedure.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

The SPS seeks to provide an excellent service at a competitive cost. To achieve this, efficiency savings need to be implemented throughout the service and, in particular, a more flexible staff attendance system and more flexible working practices are required.

Representatives from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland meet with members of the higher education sector on a regular basis. Issues such as this have been raised during these discussions.

Students are responsible for informing the Agency of any change in their circumstances. This responsibility is highlighted in the Agency's annual booklet Student Support in Scotland - A Guide for Undergraduate Students. It is also included in the Letters of Award which are issued to all students supported by the Agency. Once advised of change, the Agency will explain to the student the consequences for their entitlement to support.

In order to make the position as clear as possible for students and their representatives from next year, the booklet Student Support in Scotland- A Guide for Undergraduate Students will provide a detailed explanation of the support available to those who have to take a break from full-time study.

The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 permits student support payments to be made only in respect of persons attending courses of education. Therefore to be eligible for support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, students must be registered as attending a course of higher education. Students who are only temporarily absent from their courses because they are too ill to attend or for some other reason as agreed with the academic authorities, including pregnancy or caring for a sick relative, can continue to receive support through the student support system. This includes Access Funds and the Hardship Loan as appropriate. Support can be continued in such cases until the student is able to resume or, in the case of a sick student, until they have been absent for 28 weeks at which time sick students become eligible for income support.

The situation is different where a student temporarily withdraws from the course for whatever reason. In these circumstances the student has taken a decision to temporarily cease his or her studies. As he or she is no longer a registered student in attendance on a course, support under the student support arrangements cannot continue.

Students who have to interrupt their studies either because of illness or caring duties are eligible to claim Job Seekers' Allowance from the date of recovery from illness or from the date the caring responsibility ends.

In determining whether student support can continue, the Awards Agency considers each case individually.

I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-9031.