Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Wave Energy Scotland (WES) inception team is currently based in Inverness. A decision on the permanent location – or locations – for WES in the Highlands and Islands has not yet been made. This is a matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24831 on 25 March 2015. 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

As indicated in the previous answer, there have been a number of discussions with European colleagues on this matter. The most recent meeting in the last four years was between former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP, and Androulla Vassilliou, the then European Education Commissioner, on 26 April 2012.

The Scottish Funding Council’s Baseline Report for Academic Year 2013-14 explains that while there are different ways of measuring student numbers, full-time equivalent student numbers (FTEs) are the most accurate way of comparing the volume of college activity over time.

The trend in funded FTEs since 2009-10 is explained by colleges exceeding activity targets by a smaller margin than in previous years and, from 2011-12 onwards, the decision to focus school-college activity on pupils in the senior phase.

Colleges have exceeded our commitment to maintaining a minimum of 116,300 FTE places every year since its introduction.

Source: Scottish Funding Council

The following table shows that funding for college bursaries has increased by £26.2 million or nearly 47% since 2007-08. Bursary funding is only one element of the wider further education student support budget, which is at a record level of £104 million in 2014-15.

Source: Scottish Funding Council

Considerable discussion has taken place with EU representatives about the concept and application of management fees. As my predecessor, Michael Russell, made clear to the Scottish Parliament on 5 December 2013, introduction of such a policy would need to meet with complex EU requirements and is therefore difficult to implement.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

The following table shows a 10% increase in the number of students receiving college bursaries between 2006-07 and 2013-14.

Record further education student support funding of £104 million in 2014-15 means that students can now receive bursaries of up to £93.03 per week.

Source: Scottish Funding Council

Figures not yet published for 2014-15

The figures are as follows:

¹ This figure differs from the figure given in answer of S4W-18687 on 17 December 2013, as the figure given then only related to part of the year.

² Please note that this figure is provisional as audit work in relation to 2014 has yet to be completed.

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

The Scottish Government intends to advertise for a new Chief Scientific Adviser Scotland shortly and we hope to appoint later in 2015.