Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17797 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether it will provide figures for the value of the total maintenance package provided in 2013-14 for students living away from home (but not in London) from (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales at re…
Answer · Michael Russell: The following tables provide the maintenance package available to dependent and independent students in Scotland in 2013-14, who are living away from home. Dependent students: Household income Bursary Loan Total £0 to £16,999 £1,750 £5,500 £7,250 £1…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18332 by Michael Russell on 28 November 2013, what estimates for the value of non-repayable forms of higher education student support, including bursaries, were used to inform the figures for (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 in the “Student Support and T…
Answer · Michael Russell: The student support and tuition fee payments line is made up of tuition fees and bursaries. This line assumes that the student population is maintained at the current levels. The budget line in 2013-14 allows for £220 million in tuition fees and £82.4 million…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, what the (a) lowest and (b) highest amount of student loan available was in 2012-13 for an independent student living (a) away from home and (b) in the family home with a household income below £30,000.
Answer · Michael Russell: The new simplified student support package replaced a more complex system in operation prior to 2013. Under the previous system, a number of factors determined loan entitlement. These included: Household Income, the length of the course, where the student li…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, what the (a) lowest and (b) highest amount of student loan available was in 2012-13 for a young student living (i) away from home and (ii) in the family home with a household income below £30,000.
Answer · Michael Russell: The new simplified student support package replaced a more complex system in operation prior to 2013. Under the previous system, a number of factors determined loan entitlement, these included: Household Income, the length of the course, where the student liv…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, over what period of years the debt figures quoted had been accrued in each case.
Answer · Michael Russell: The figures quoted in the answer to S4W-17799 show the average debt of those borrowers who became eligible to repay in April 2013 (the 2013 cohort). Borrowers become eligible to repay their loans in the April after they graduate or otherwise leave their cours…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, for what reason it used figures for end-of-course debt for previous years in England and Wales to inform its assessment of the impact on low-income students of changes coming into effect in Scotland in 20…
Answer · Michael Russell: In framing the new student support package from 2013-14, a range of evidence was examined by the Scottish Government.
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning was aware that the figures published by the Student Loans Company quoted in the answer were for the average final debt of students who had…
Answer · Michael Russell: The figures included in the answer to S4W-17799 were published by the Student Loans Company in June 2013. They show the average debt of those borrowers who became eligible to repay in April 2013 (the 2013 cohort). Borrowers become eligible to repay their loan…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning was aware on 22 August 2012 that an independent student with a household income of £18,000 would receive £1,000 less in bursary each year …
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19042 on 17 January 2014. 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/parliamentar…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning was aware on 22 August 2012 that a young student with a household income of £24,000 would receive over £1,300 less in bursary each year as…
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19042 on 17 January 2014. 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/parliamentar…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning was aware on 22 August 2012 that a young student with a residual household income of £18,000 would receive over £1,600 less in bursary eac…
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19042 on 17 January 2014. 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/parliamentar…
20 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17799 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning was aware on 22 August 2012 that a young student with a residual household income of £15,000 would receive almost £900 less in bursary eac…
Answer · Michael Russell: A key aim of the Post 16 Education Reform Programme was to simplify the main student support system. Analysis of the impact of changes announced on 22 August 2012 was geared to ensuring maximum benefit for all undergraduate students. Introduction of the new …
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what targets are in place to reduce the number of undischarged bankrupts by (a) 2015 and (b) 2020.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of debtors who do not receive their discharge from bankruptcy after one year is currently low, less than 0.1 per cent of all bankruptcies recorded by AiB. There are a number of reasons why a debtor's bankruptcy may not be discharged after one year.…
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the passage of the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill will result in an increase or decrease in the number of undischarged bankrupts.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of debtors who do not receive their discharge from bankruptcy after one year is currently low, less than 0.1 per cent of all bankruptcies recorded by AiB. There are a number of reasons why a debtor's bankruptcy may not be discharged after one year.…
17 Dec 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will allocate the Barnett consequentials arising from the Autumn Statement.
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would support a ban on payday loan advertising at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Glasgow Commonwealth Games (Trading and Advertising) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 restrict advertising activity in the vicinity of Games venues during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. To be able to advertise legally within the event zones during the pr…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its Council of Economic Advisers' work on childcare.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The minutes of the meeting of the Council of Economic Advisers on 30 August 2013, where the issue of the economic and social impacts of improving childcare provision in Scotland was discussed, are available on the Scottish Government’s website at the followin…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it seeks to encourage the uptake of Scottish Qualification Authority awards in cooperative studies.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18941 on 8 January 2014. 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/Apps2/Busines…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are studying for Scottish Qualification Authority awards in cooperative studies, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Michael Russell: The certificate in co-operative studies is a customised award that SQA certificates and quality assures, but that is privately owned and developed. The award is available at SCQF Levels 4, 5 and 6 although only levels 4 and 5 are currently being delivered. T…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that young people should be able to access sexual health services in a non-clinical environment and, if so, how it is making such services available.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government policy states that it is essential that young people have access to sexual health services, advice and information when they require it. It does not prescribe the format that these services should take or whether these services should be p…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to encourage the uptake of massive open online courses in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland, through the Senior Education Officer (SEO) team, has opened up a dialogue with the Open University (OU) in relation to massive open online courses (MOOCS). They are exploring how we can promote the Young Applicants in Schools scheme, whic…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) headcount and (b) percentage turnover of full-time equivalent staff was in each of its (i) directorates and (ii) agencies in the last period for which information is available.
Answer · John Swinney: The following tables show the headcount and full time equivalent staffing numbers of permanent and fixed-term staff who were directly employed in each Directorate and Agency at 30 September 2013. The quarterly turnover figure provided is the percentage of ful…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the school inspection system assesses a school's ability to cater for the needs of looked-after children.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The school inspection system assesses a school’s ability to cater for the needs of looked-after children and young people in all inspections. HM Inspectors are provided with data about looked-after children prior to the inspection of all schools. Inspectors l…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Education Scotland's remit includes adult learning and, if so, what work is underway to enhance learning opportunities for adult learners across the country.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland has policy responsibility for adult learning. This includes the Adult Literacies in Scotland 2020 Strategic Guidance and the strategy for English for Speakers of Other Languages. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has…
16 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a review of e-book provision and lending across the country.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Public libraries and the lending of books and e-books are the responsibility of local authorities in Scotland. The Scottish Government supports the work of public libraries through the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) which, working with local …
11 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will establish a public inquiry into the Edinburgh Trams project; who will chair it, and what its (a) remit and (b) budget will be.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has made it clear that it would welcome a public inquiry but the focus has rightly been on delivering the project, which is now nearing completion. Once completed, we will consider when and how best to establish a public inquiry into t…
6 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17798 by Michael Russell on 8 November 2013, whether it will publish the text used in the email sent to students by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) already provided this information to Ms Dugdale on 9 September 2013, following a Freedom of Information request. Here is the original email sent to students in August 2012. ‘The Cabinet Secretary for Education a…
6 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what year additional support for Scottish students studying in London was last made available and what the (a) maximum value of additional support and (b) total amount paid was that year.
Answer · Michael Russell: Additional support was last made available to students studying in London in 2012-13. a) The maximum support for students studying a 30 week course in London was £6,690. This was £1120 higher than students studying a 30 week course elsewhere. Courses longer…
6 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it no longer provides Scottish students studying in London with additional support for living costs.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Post 16 Education Reform Programme has simplified the student support system, making it easier for student to understand and maximise their entitlement. The new student support package introduced in 2013-14 standardised the level of living cost support ir…
6 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average loan authorised by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland was for young students with a household income below £30,000 in 2012-13, including students exempt from contributions.
Answer · Michael Russell: The average loan authorised by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for young students with a household income below £30,000 was £3,425 in the academic year 2012-13. It is not possible to include students ‘exempt from contributions’ as they are considered …
6 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average loan authorised by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland was for students with a household income below £30,000 in 2012-13, including students exempt from contributions.
Answer · Michael Russell: The average loan authorised by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for those with a household income below £30,000 (including those exempt from parental contributions) was £4,126 in the academic year 2012-13.