Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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 inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament took place in Oban on 6-8 November 2014 and was attended by over 400 delegates from across rural Scotland. The event was organised by Scottish Rural Action, an independent, not-for-profit organisation.

Further information relating to the key themes discussed at the Rural Parliament, the delegate invitation process as well as information on funding, costs, administration and governance can either be found on the Rural Parliament website: http://www.scottishruralparliament.org.uk/ or by contacting Scottish Rural Action.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23654 on 19 December 2014. 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 received recommendations on hyperbaric medicine services in Scotland in October 2014.

Scottish Ministers have agreed the recommendations, which will see the nationally designated service extended to include independent hyperbaric chambers in Scotland, including Orkney. This will ensure the continued provision of a safe and sustainable hyperbaric service for those who need it.

The new arrangements are expected to be in place by April 2015.

28 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have signed up to the UK junior individual savings accounts scheme for looked-after children. The four who have not are East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and Stirling. The Scottish Government understands that discussions are ongoing about signing up to the scheme. There is no deadline for registration.

Local authorities and The Share Foundation (the body contracted by the UK Government to administer the scheme until the end of March 2015) have the latest information on take-up rate.

The Scottish Government considers the scheme as a core function of a local authority’s corporate parenting responsibilities as set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, and would expect them to comply for the interests of looked-after children within their care to get maximum benefits from this.

(a) The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) produces statistics for further education students in colleges. The latest detailed data on students in further education is for the academic year 2012-13.

Table 1 shows the number and percentage of further education enrolments at Scottish colleges split by disability type.

Table 1: Enrolments in further education (FE) in Scottish colleges by disability type: 2012-13

Source: SFC

Notes:

(1) For colleges, students with an autistic spectrum disorder are included in the category ‘a disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above’ as they are not reported separately.

Enrolment numbers are rounded to the nearest five.

Some further education courses have a duration of less than one academic year, therefore students can enrol more than once per year. The number of FE enrolments will be higher than the number of students. Enrolments have been provided in this table to ensure comparability with the higher education (HE) enrolment numbers provided below.

(b) The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) produces statistics for higher education students in higher education institutions (HEIs). The SFC produces statistics for higher education students in colleges. The latest data on students in higher education is for the academic year 2012-13.

Table 2 shows the number and percentage of higher education enrolments split by disability type.

Table 2: Enrolments in higher education in Scottish HEIs and colleges by disability type: 2012-13

Source: HESA and SFC.

Notes:

(1) For colleges, students with an autistic spectrum disorder are included in the category ‘a disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above’ as they are not reported separately.

Student numbers are rounded to the nearest five.

HE students enrol once in each year of their course. The number of HE enrolments is therefore broadly comparable to the number of HE students for each academic year.

The information requested is provided in the following tables:

Source: National Services Division