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Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges, and the associated activity which colleges require to deliver, fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Colleges are independent employers and are responsible for taking their own decisions on staff-related matters, where appropriate in consultation with the recognised trade unions. Ministers have no role in determining the number of staff employed by Clydebank College.

Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

The delivery of HIV and sexual health prevention services for gay and bisexual men is a matter for NHS boards to determine locally. NHS Grampian has informed us that they have been working with their former third sector provider and their local networks to ensure that sexual health and HIV prevention services are available between December and April. Local NHS clinical services will also provide support for people living with HIV during the transition period.

Scottish Government will monitor this activity through performance management visits to the NHS Grampian area as part of the Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Framework activity.

The commissioning of third sector organisations, and the performance management of any contracts that exist, is a matter for NHS boards locally. The role of government is to ensure that our policy priorities of fewer new blood-borne virus infections and fewer STIs are achieved, and that individuals in the Grampian area are not adversely affected by any commissioning decision. NHS Grampian has informed us that this is not the case, and we will be monitoring this closely.

NHS Grampian has advised that they will re-tender this service early in the new year, with service delivery due to commence from April 2012. Terrence Higgins Trust, as with other third sector organisations, will be able to bid for the new contract to provide this service.

The delivery of HIV and sexual health prevention services is a matter for NHS boards to determine locally. NHS Grampian has informed us that they have been working with their former third sector provider and their local networks to ensure that HIV prevention services are available between December and April. Local NHS clinical services will also provide support for people living with HIV during the transition period.

Scottish Government will monitor this activity through performance management visits to the NHS Grampian area as part of the Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Framework activity.

We are looking at how the reform of welfare benefits by the UK Government will affect disabled people’s eligibility for concessionary travel in Scotland as they emerge. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport to ensure that appropriate passporting links between the proposed Personal Independence Payment and concessionary travel eligibility can be established.

We are looking at how the reform of welfare benefits by the UK Government will affect disabled people’s eligibility for concessionary travel in Scotland as they emerge. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport to ensure that appropriate passporting links between the proposed Personal Independence Payment and concessionary travel eligibility can be established. Discussions are at too early a stage to confirm any new arrangements.

Subsequent to my answers to questions S4W-02669 on 23 September 2011 and S4W-03105 on 13 October 2011, the UK Government has confirmed its intention to abolish rather than devolve council tax benefit. The Scottish Government is working with COSLA to identify potential ways of reducing individuals’ local taxation liabilities and will consult on potential options later this autumn.

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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.