Chamber and committees

The publication does not identify a reason for the reduction in the number of students accessing bursaries. However, the Scottish Government will investigate this further, in consultation with stakeholders, as part of the recently announced review of student support.

The Scottish Government is committed to doing more to ensure support is equitable and fair for all students, particularly the most vulnerable, which is why we have announced a comprehensive review of student support with an independent chair. The review will examine a range of issues including the current split between bursaries and loans.

ADMISSIONS

Institution

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Total

Aberdeen University

15

28

25

19

47

134

Ayrshire College

10

10

Dundee University

82

56

39

35

67

279

Edinburgh College

24

0

48

72

Edinburgh University

24

24

24

24

25

121

Experiential Play

4

4

Glasgow Clyde College

20

14

12

46

Glasgow University

56

60

88

97

131

432

Hamilton School

0

0

12

12

North East Scotland College

8

8

Stirling Council

14

15

35

64

Strathclyde University

46

24

33

33

33

169

University of the Highlands & Islands

18

29

43

140

140

370

University of the West of Scotland (UWS)

61

26

26

30

5

148

West Lothian College

14

3

17

TOTAL

302

247

362

424

551

1886

COMPLETIONS

Institution

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Total

Aberdeen University

23

2

6

15

16

62

Ayrshire College

13

13

Dundee University

17

57

39

51

32

196

Edinburgh College

20

23

43

Edinburgh University

18

19

20

20

20

97

Experiential Play

4

4

Glasgow Clyde College

18

18

Glasgow University

63

48

31

46

121

309

Hamilton School

0

North East Scotland College

0

Stirling Council

12

12

Strathclyde University

44

84

40

37

205

University of the Highlands & Islands

36

55

91

University of the West of Scotland (UWS)

45

70

9

9

15

148

West Lothian College

9

9

TOTAL

210

280

154

283

280

1207

On 15 November I set out details for three delivery trials to be progressed from January 2017, located in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. A news release which provides further details on the individual trials can be found at: http://news.gov.scot/news/making-free-childcare-more-flexible

We will make a further announcement on the Programme of trials in December.

No. The recently published Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) statistical publication contained an inaccurate statement. We apologise for this inaccuracy and will revise the relevant entry in the report.

The reason for introducing a simplified higher education student support package in academic year 2013-14 was to increase the amount of support available to students and deliver a minimum income guarantee of £7,250 per year for students from the poorest households. We worked with stakeholders, including NUS Scotland, to achieve this, putting more money in the pockets of students to support their living costs during their period of free higher education study. The introduction of the new support package was welcomed at the time by these stakeholders.

The Scottish Government has not replaced grants with loans. Eligible students remain entitled to apply for a mixture of both. This is in contrast to the UK Government, which abolished maintenance grants entirely for new students in England from academic year 2016-17. The Scottish Government increased the maximum bursary for the poorest household to £1,875 last year and, effective from the current academic year, increased the household income threshold for award of the maximum bursary (£1,875) from £17,000 to £19,000.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04230 on 11 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

There is no analysis undertaken as the data is not gathered or held centrally. As digital transformation plans are developed, a full assessment of the impact at all levels including equality, business and people, will be undertaken.

We’re committed to ensuring the public sector workforce is fit-for-purpose and can deliver on our digital transformation ambitions. This includes ensuring the resources we have are invested in front-line services.

Digital transformation in itself requires the employment of a range of professions as we design digital services, standardise our processes across the public sector and simplify processes for the user. Potential effects of ‘automation’, are problematic to quantify, as there are often unforeseen developments in any given labour market with technological advances.

However, the report by Deloitte also indicated that Brexit was an important threat to Scotland’s economy, jobs and long-term prosperity.

Analysis shows that the potential cost of leaving the European Union to the Scottish economy is up to £11.2 billion per year by 2030. And the independent Fraser of Allander Institute has forecast that Brexit could cost Scotland up to 80,000 jobs over the next decade.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all staff to have a healthy work-life balance. The Flexible Working Policy is a key part of this and in line with the Scottish Government vision for the future. Flexible working is one way we can adapt to the challenges of being more open, responsive and capable.

The majority of Scottish Government staff have informal flexible working arrangements that are agreed by individual staff and managers to respond to the changing needs of the organisation. All Staff except those working shift patterns can apply to work flexibly. The different types of flexible working available are detailed in the following table.

As at end June 2016 we had 5,416 directly employed staff in the core SG. This number is consistent with our published headcount, which can be found in table C1 here: http://www.gov.scot/About/Information/workforce-information/workforce-information-q2-2016

Of those, the staff who are less likely to have access to flexible working arrangements include:

Offshore marine staff (161)

House Teams (91)

Motor Services (27 staff)

These three groups of staff comprise 5.2% of our directly employed staffing complement.

Our consideration of relevant statistical information indicates that there has been clear progress on access since the reintroduction of free tuition in 2008. In 2014-15 14.0% of Scottish domiciled, full-time first degree entrants to Scottish universities were from the 20% most deprived areas, up from 11.3% in 2008/09.

We recognise there is more to do. That is why we have accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Widening Access, including the target that, by 2030, students from the 20% most deprived communities should represent 20% of entrants to University.

Funding of £2 million was allocated in 2014-15 and £6.8 million in 2015-16. Further funding was included in the Outcomes Framework funding that was issued to Health Boards for 2016-17. Our planned funding levels should allow us to meet the manifesto commitment by 2018 but the final 2017-18 budget value is subject to the Spending Review and will be published in the 2017-18 Draft Budget on 15 December 2016.