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We have no plans to change how discretionary funds are distributed. The funds for higher education have now been allocated for academic year 2008-09. These funds are continually monitored and the guidance is updated on an annual basis. This allows us to regularly introduce any changes or improvements to the way the funds are allocated or the guidance underlying them.

The information sent to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland on 6 June comprises a guidance document which provides general advice to administrators of the discretionary funds. As these funds are discretionary, it is up to each individual institution to decide how best to manage and distribute the funds available to them. The Higher Education and Learner Support Division provides general guidance on administration and disbursement of the funds and also notification of any changes to the funds through an annual update of this document. We also advise each institution of the allocation of discretionary funds that they will receive for the forthcoming academic year.

A copy of the Guidance document and the allocations for academic year 2008-09 can be accessed via the SAAS website at http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/other_funding.htm#discretionary.

The planned efficiency savings of £2.156 million in 2008-09, £4.265 million in 2009-10 and £6.327 million in 2010-11 have already been factored and redistributed into the relevant budgets as part of last year’s spending review. These efficiencies have contributed to new investments set out in the Scottish budget for student support including: additional support for part-time students; abolishing the graduate endowment fee; and £30 million to aid the transition from loans to grants in 2010-11.

The amount advanced in new student loans through the Student Loans Company and the amounts received in repayment have been published on 12 June 2008 at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/PubStudentLoansHE.

The relevant figures are reproduced in the following table.

Financial Year	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08*
Amount lent (£ million)	199.8	197.6	212.8
Amount repaid (£ million)	49.8	51.5	59.0

Source: Student Loans Company.

Note: *2007-08 are provisional figures

I have explained in the answer to S3W-13951 on 18 June 2008, how much it costs the Scottish Government to lend each pound of student loan. 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/webapp/wa.search.

The direct DEL cost of making loans, known as the student loans subsidy, is 31p per £1 loaned, comprising the interest subsidy rate of 18.2p and the write-off rate of 12.8p.

The proposed loans to grants efficiency saving will not result in any net reduction in revenue for the Scottish Government, the Student Loans Company or elsewhere.

Thresholds for bursaries, loans and additional grants are uprated on an annual basis based on the underlying rate of inflation (The Retail Prices Index excluding Mortgage Interest Payments or RPIX).

It is not possible to provide income thresholds for future years until we know what the RPIX rate is.

Thresholds for academic year 2008-09 were announced on 17 January 2008 in S3W-8542. At this time information on income thresholds was placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44263).

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/webapp/wa.search.

All institutions within Scotland are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (and as amended in 2005) and as such they are required to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students. This can include providing, within reason, equipment, services, appropriate access to buildings and that adjustments are made to teaching practices and assessments.

An individual can apply to any college or university in Scotland to undertake a course at further or higher education level as long as they meet the course entry requirements. Entry requirements vary depending on the nature and level of the course, however, they are normally based on the qualifications and experiences of the individual. The location of an institution is just one of the many considerations individuals take into account when choosing where to study.

Attendance fees to undertake a further or higher education course at a college or university within Scotland are dependent upon the residency of the individual. An individual who is studying full time, who is ordinarily resident in Scotland and meets the residency criteria will have their fees paid for by either the Student Awards Agency for Scotland if they are undertaking a higher education course or by the Scottish Funding Council if they are undertaking a further education course.

For a student studying part time or on a distance learning course at a Scottish college or university the student’s fees can be waived if they are on a low income or receiving certain benefits, for example Disability Living Allowance, and the course they are studying qualifies for fee waiver from the Scottish Funding Council.

We do not hold information on how many educational institutions in Scotland are specifically equipped to provide for students with cerebral palsy.

Colleges and universities in Scotland are continuing to become more inclusive for all students. They undertake or arrange for an access centre to undertake a needs assessment in order to identify any specific support arrangements that are required for disabled students. These arrangements are made on an individual basis for the student and are based on their needs for undertaking a particular course.

The Scottish Government encourages all colleges and universities in Scotland to offer flexible courses which respond to the needs of learners while continuing to offer a high quality and relevant learning experience.

Additional support provided to students to attend college or university is based on the individual needs of the student and their needs for undertaking a particular course.

Institutions are expected to provide and develop inclusive provision and to meet their statutory duties, for example under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended in 2005), from the core funds which are allocated to them by the Scottish Funding Council. Institutions are also allocated additional funding through the Disabled Students Premium and Extended Learning Support to support disabled students.

Disabled students can also apply for non income assessed individual allowances which are intended to cover any extra costs or expenses they may have while undertaking a course at college or university which arise as a result of their disability.