- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made or is making, and what research it has commissioned or plans to commission, to assess the impact of student poverty on academic performance and whether it will detail the results of any such analysis and research.
Answer
A wide range of factors, including financial ones, will affect an individual's academic performance. We do not have any current plans to commission, research on the impact of student poverty on academic performance. As the member will be aware there are a new set of financial support arrangements being introduced.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether student loans are a disincentive to potential students from less affluent backgrounds from entering further and higher education.
Answer
Student loans apply only in higher education. Support for further education is provided in the form of bursary.As part of the new student support arrangements introduced from this academic year, young students entering full-time higher education in Scotland from less affluent backgrounds receive up to £2,000 of their annual support entitlement in the form of a non-repayable Young Students Bursary. New entrant mature students may also be able to receive non-repayable support of up to £2,000 a year from the Mature Students Bursary Fund, in addition to their loan support, at the discretion of their institutions.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 28 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating units had been installed under its central heating installation programme at 31 December 2001.
Answer
Eaga had installed 289 central heating systems in the private sector. They are on target to install over 3,500 systems by 31 March 2002. Information is currently being collected from the social rented sector landlords, but indications show that they will have installed around 6,400 central heating systems by 31 March 2002.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether student loans are a disincentive to potential students from ethnic minority backgrounds from entering further and higher education.
Answer
Student loans apply only in higher education.There are a wide variety of reasons why individuals choose whether or not to enter further or higher education.Information on student numbers by ethnicity in further and higher education over the last five years can be found in the Standard Tables on Higher Education and Further Education in Scotland, published by the Scottish Executive under National Statistics in June 2001.Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18496) or on the Scottish Executive website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00086-00.aspThese figures show an increase in the number of ethnic minority students in Scotland over the period covered.I am aware that there are some individuals who are not prepared to borrow money on the grounds of religious belief.Support for students in further education is in the form of a bursary.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact student poverty and student debt have on the economy.
Answer
I am not aware of any research into the impact of student income levels and student debt on the Scottish economy.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the imposition of tuition fees on students had on the economy.
Answer
Tuition fees were abolished for eligible Scottish domiciled and EU students studying in Scotland from academic year 2000-01. I am not aware of any research into the impact of student contributions to fees in the period 1998-99 to 1999-2000.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any research it has commissioned into the rates of non-completion of courses by students.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question on 18 January 2002.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the non-completion of courses by students had or is having on the ability of those students to repay tuition fees or their student loans.
Answer
Eligible Scottish domiciled and EU students studying in Scotland have not been required to contribute to the cost of their tuition since 2000-01. They are not required to repay tuition fees paid to institutions by the Executive on their behalf. Under the Income Contingent Repayment system, introduced for students starting in higher education from 1998, students are not required to repay their student loans until they leave their course, whether or not they complete it, and are earning more than the annual income threshold of £10,000, after which payments are made at the rate of 9% of income over £10,000. It is too early to judge whether there is any clear relationship between a student's completion of their course, and their long-term ability to repay loans made under the income-contingent scheme.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reinstate subsistence grants for students in place of the current student loans system.
Answer
Since August 2001 young Scottish students from low-income homes starting full-time study in Scotland have been eligible for a Young Student Bursary of up to £2,000 each year towards their living costs.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether student loans are a disincentive to mature students from entering further and higher education.
Answer
Support for students in further education is given the form of bursary. Student loans apply only in higher education.There are a wide variety of reasons why individuals choose whether or not to enter further or higher education.Information on student numbers by age in further and higher education over the last five years can be found in the Standard Tables on Higher Education and Further Education in Scotland, published by the Scottish Executive under National Statistics in June 2001.Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18496) or on the Scottish Executive website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00086-00.aspThese figures show an increase in the number of mature students in Scotland over the period covered.
