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Since 1990, Access Funds, now known as Hardship Funds, have been allocated to institutions on the basis of the number of students enrolled on further education, higher education and postgraduate courses. The further education allocation is now administered by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. The funds for higher education students are provided by SAAS. Institutions are no longer allowed to transfer money between their sectoral allocations, to ensure that the Executive's relative priority for support of students in higher and further education is reflected in the actual distribution to students. In addition, from this year, the Mature Students Bursary Fund (MSBF) has been introduced for full-time higher education students. MSBF is separate from Hardship Funds and is targeted, in particular, at students with childcare costs.We have received representations from some institutions seeking greater flexibility in the use of the funds. We are currently considering whether some flexibility should be introduced between MSBF and Hardship Funds for higher educarion students during the period MSBF is being phased in. I have also, in my letter of policy guidance, asked the Scottish Further Education Funding Council this week to consider how the further education student support system might be simplified, to ease administrative burdens, and improved so funds are better targeted to achieve our principal policy objectives of focusing on students in greatest need and aligning as far as appropriate and possible the student support arrangements in further education and higher education.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government and with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues, including the ScotRail Franchise.

We are currently finalising the Clyde Shipyards Task Force report following the group's last meeting, and will send it to the printers before Christmas with a view to publishing it in January.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:None.

Work is under way on drawing up a specification for the centre and the tendering process is expected to take about six months. The timetable thereafter will be largely determined by the identification of suitable premises. The centre will be evaluated but it is too early to say when the report might be published.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The average number of remand prisoners in November was 35. The capacity of the newly opened Ross House is 51.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The average number of remand prisoners per month was:

September	35
October	40
November	35

Data on radiography student places is not held centrally. However, Glasgow Caledonian University has supplied the following figures (which include diagnostic and therapeutic radiography).

Academic year	No of FTE students successfully completing radiography course
1996-97	27
1997-98	32
1998-99	44
1999-2000	41
2000-01	43

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Skye House has recently been reopened which has increased the available capacity. In addition, work is under way to consider better use of the current available accommodation as well as to look at options for providing additional accommodation. The SPS will take decisions in the light of operational requirements.

When it begins operation, the Time Out centre in Glasgow is expected to have six to 12 residential places. The development of further centres will depend upon the success of the Glasgow pilot.