- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 23 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the establishing a management fee to be paid by non-UK EU students in Scotland.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 23 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government how many college bursaries have been provided in each of the last eight years.
Answer
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.
| Year | Number of students who have received a further education bursary |
| 2006-07 | 40,877 |
| 2007-08 | 41,513 |
| 2008-09 | 41,243 |
| 2009-10 | 44,829 |
| 2010-11 | 44,993 |
| 2011-12 | 45,328 |
| 2012-13 | 44,790 |
| 2013-14 | 44,810 |
Source: Scottish Funding Council
Figures not yet published for 2014-15
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
-
Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 23 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of schools has provided free fruit for P1 and P2 pupils in each of the last eight years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2015
-
Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for discounted flights under the Air Discount Scheme have been (a) made and (b) approved in each of the last three years.
Answer
The figures are as follows:
| Year | Claims made | Claims approved |
| 2012 | 136,607 | 136,339 |
| 2013 | 148,1431 | 147,910 |
| 2014 | 162,498 | 162,2942 |
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
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2015
-
Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 12 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to (a) advertise for and (b) appoint a Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government intends to advertise for a new Chief Scientific Adviser Scotland shortly and we hope to appoint later in 2015.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2015
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2015
To ask the First Minister what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in Jackie Brock’s report on closing the gaps in the child protection process.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2015
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2015
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in setting the objectives and budget for Wave Energy Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2015
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2015
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23548 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer what process it used to choose the directors of Scottish Rural Action and which (a) people and (b) groups it consulted as part of this.
Answer
The Scottish Government was not responsible for choosing the directors of Scottish Rural Action. Information on this process can be obtained by contacting Scottish Rural Action.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 January 2015
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23549 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer what criteria were used to select the people who were invited to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.
Answer
The Scottish Government was not responsible for inviting people to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand that Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, has provided the member with the information requested.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2014
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 January 2015
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23551 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how many organisations it approached for assistance in funding the running costs of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which contributed.
Answer
Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, was responsible for sourcing support for the inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand it has responded to the member’s request for information.