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The following table shows the number of Bachelor of Education/MA (four years) and Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (one year) course places the Scottish Funding Council will fund through its main teaching grant in the General Fund for Universities and those over baseline numbers which will be funded separately by the Scottish Government in 2011-12.

Total Full-Time Equivalent BEd/MA and PGDE Student Places, 2011-12

In May 2011 2,218 potential probationary teachers were allocated places on the Teacher Induction Scheme for 2011-12. The number that finally take up their places cannot be confirmed until the start of the new school term in August 2011.

We have not carried out such a survey. Support under the Air Discount Scheme is granted to individual consumers under the European Commission’s Aid of a Social Character mechanism and we believe that it is not intended to extend to business-related travel.

The analysis of the judgement in the case between The Queen (on the application of TA Gwillim and Sons) and the Welsh Ministers has shown that it is not necessary to make any announcement about the conclusions. This is because there is no read-across between the judgement and Scottish producers whose Single Farm Payment (SFP) entitlements may have been affected by agri-environmental commitments.

In essence, the circumstances in the Welsh case were unique to Messrs Gwillim (indeed there were no other cases similarly affected in Wales) and to certain arrangements for claiming support payments in Wales. On this latter point, the Welsh authorities allowed landlords to participate in agri-environment schemes and tenants to claim under direct support schemes: effectively the same land supporting two beneficiaries which in the Welsh case led to Messrs Gwillim’s SFP being adversely affected by the actions of his landlord in relation to an agri-environment scheme (“Tir Gofal”) that required limitations on livestock in order to enhance the landscape and wildlife of the land. The Welsh authorities no longer allow this dual claiming of land which brings them into line with the position as it has been in Scotland. My officials have satisfied themselves, therefore, that a “Gwillim” scenario could not have arisen here, given the bar on dual claiming of land and the way SFP was implemented in Scotland.

It would be for the governing body members of the registered social landlord to ensure that they seek and follow independent advice from appropriately qualified individuals to help them make these decisions.

This information is not held centrally.

The independent evaluation of low-cost initiative for first time buyers by ODS Consulting demonstrated that in particular the shared equity schemes had delivered their objectives by meeting buyers’ housing needs. Whilst recognising that there are still some areas of Scotland where shared ownership was popular, the Scottish Government decided to focus its resources on those schemes which were effective in delivering key outcomes, such as helping first time buyers and delivering mixed communities; which offered the best value for taxpayers’ money; and which were shown to be most affordable to buyers.

The Scottish Government received a formal representation opposing the decision from Grampian Housing Association. A small number of other registered social landlords have also commented informally, some to support the Scottish Government’s decision and others to advise that the scheme had been popular with purchasers.

The independent evaluation of low-cost Initiative for first time buyers (LIFT) by ODS Consulting found that new supply shared equity, grants for rent and ownership (GRO) and shared ownership schemes have all contributed to creating mixed communities. We will therefore still be able to support mixed communities through shared equity funding. We will also highlight examples of good practice and lessons learnt in the creation of mixed and sustainable communities in our LIFT procedures.

Registered social landlords (RSLs) may set up shared ownership schemes as long as they ensure good value for money and support for the sharing owner and provided that, in marketing the properties, they are careful to ensure that buyers fully understand what they are taking on. We would also expect RSLs to consider how this proposed activity fits with their overall purpose. In addition, the Scottish Housing Regulator and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator have recently issued joint guidance on what charitable RSLs need to consider when looking at any low cost home ownership initiative.