- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what new funding arrangements have been agreed with universities for the 2008-11 spending review period following the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning’s meeting with university principals on 22 November 2007.
Answer
I held a veryconstructive meeting with Universities Scotland on 22 November 2007 covering a range of issues. I stated clearly toUniversities Scotland that the Cabinet remains sympathetic to the sector interms of additional funding from in-year flexibility for capital and potentialconsequentials in the years ahead. I am sympathetic on the issue of thespecific cost pressures universities face in the first year of the settlementand I am willing to work creatively with the sector and the Funding Council onaddressing this matter. Universities Scotland have committed to providing moredetailed information to the Scottish Government on this issue so that it can beconsidered further.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it engaged in prior to its decision not to award universities the level of additional funding that they requested in the strategic spending review.
Answer
In the lead up tothe strategic spending review the Government held meetings with a number ofbodies including the Scottish Funding Council, Universities Scotland and theUniversity and College Union. Meetings were also held with principals andsenior staff from a number of universities. University funding was covered atthese meetings within a wider range of topics. The Government also carefully consideredspending review advice from the Scottish Funding Council and stakeholderbodies.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the full remit will be of the review of student support and graduate debt proposals.
Answer
We plan to issue a consultation paper seeking theviews of stakeholders about our policy to replace the current system of studentloans with a fair and affordable system of means-tested grants. As part of thisprocess we will also seek the views of stakeholders on measures to tacklegraduate debt.
We currently haveno plans to extend the remit of the consultation any further.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whom it will consult on the review of student support and graduate debt proposals.
Answer
We plan to issue a consultation paper seeking theviews of stakeholders about our policy to replace the current system of studentloans with a fair and affordable system of means-tested grants. As part of thisprocess we will also seek the views of stakeholders on measures to tacklegraduate debt.
This consultationexercise will seek responses from those stakeholders who represent students,staff and institutions. We will also look for responses from other groups andbodies with an interest in Higher Education.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations it consulted prior to making its decision not to service the existing loan debt of Scotland-domiciled graduates by meeting their annual loan repayments as long as they are resident in Scotland.
Answer
The ScottishGovernment did not conduct a formal consultation prior to making its decisionnot to bring forward proposals for servicing the existing student loan debt inthe spending review period. This decision was made in light of there beinginsufficient parliamentary support and choices which had to be made within thecontext of the tightest budget settlement since devolution.
We plan to takeforward a consultation next year to seek the views of stakeholders on measuresto tackle graduate debt.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it carried out before deciding there should be a review on student support and graduate debt proposals to start in 2008.
Answer
The ScottishGovernment did not conduct a formal consultation on whether or not there shouldbe a review. Instead we plan toissue a consultation paper seeking the views of stakeholders about our policyto replace the current system of student loans with a fair and affordable systemof means-tested grants. As part of this process we will also seek the views ofstakeholders on measures to tackle graduate debt.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget will be for the review of student support and graduate debt proposals.
Answer
We plan to issue a consultation paper seeking theviews of stakeholders about our policy to replace the current system of studentloans with a fair and affordable system of means-tested grants. As part of thisprocess we will also seek the views of stakeholders on measures to tacklegraduate debt.
The costs for theconsultation on student support and graduate debt proposals will be met withinexisting divisional running costs.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how not providing the additional funding for universities requested by Universities Scotland matches the Executive’s statement about the importance of learning and skills in The Government Economic Strategy, published on 13 November 2007.
Answer
The Governmenthas provided a settlement which is affordable within considerable financialconstraints and which grows investment in our universities over the SpendingReview period. This will allow institutions to continue to make a significantcontribution to Scotland’s economic infrastructure.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale will be for the review of student support and graduate debt proposals.
Answer
I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6527 on 3 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Richard Baker, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next increase the Young Students Bursary and by how much.
Answer
The Scottish Budgetannounced that an additional £30 million is to be invested in 2010-11 to increasebursary support and to progress the move from loans to grants.
The Scottish Governmentwill consider how best to use this money as part of the consultation next year.This could include adding an element of new funding to the Young Students Bursary,but that decision will be influenced by the results of the consultation exercise.
