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The financial arrangement referredto is not with Communities Scotland but Scottish Homes.

The financial arrangements enteredinto at the time of transfer were part of the overall sale agreement. However, Iunderstand that it is open to Cube Housing Association to explore with ScottishHomes the option of either re-financing the loan with an alternative financial institutionor re-scheduling the loan with Scottish Homes. This will be subject to any contractualobligations or relevant prescribed regulations.

The vast majority of witnessessubmit a claim in person at the local cashier’s office and receive payment for courtexpenses on the day they attend court. Where claims are submitted by post to theCrown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Finance Section, the claimant can expect,on average, to receive reimbursement within five working days of receipt of theclaim by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Finance Section.

The last review of witness expenseswas conducted in February 2001.

Witness expenses in respect oftravel and subsistence rates, childminding rates, fees paid to professional witnessesand fees paid to expert witnesses are currently under review. Revised rates willbe implemented in the near future.

In session 2001-02 thenumber of overseas students studying at higher education (HE) level in Scotlandstood at 20,482 and the number of overseas enrolments in furthereducation (FE) stood at 4,241.

Notes:

1. Overseas is defined hereas non-UK domicile.

2. These figures exclude allopen and distance learning students as they are not deemed to be “studying in” Scotland.

3. Information on the numberof FE students is not currently available. Scottish Further EducationFunding Council collects and publishes data on enrolments on individual coursesat FE colleges. As individuals commonly enrol on more than one course in anacademic year, the number of enrolments is significantly higher than the numberof students.

4. Sources: Higher EducationStatistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

The following table shows thenumber of overseas graduates and diplomates completing courses lasting sixmonths or less at Scottish higher education institutions in academic years1997-98 to 2001-02 inclusive.

1997-98	27
1998-99	21
1999-2000	37
2000-01	54
2001-02	7

Source : Higher EducationStatistics Agency (HESA).

Notes:

1. The term “graduate”refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degreelevel or above; the term “diplomate” refers to a student who has successfullycompleted a course at higher education (sub-degree) level.

2. Overseas is defined hereas non-UK domicile.

3. These figures exclude allopen and distance learning students as those students are not deemed to be “studyingin” Scotland.

4. Data shown is for courseswith length of six months or 26 weeks and below.

The following table showsthe number of overseas graduates and diplomates completing courses lastinglonger than six months, at higher education institutions and further educationcolleges in Scotland for the period from 1997-98 to 2001-02 inclusive.

Year	Total	HEIs	FECs
1997-98	6,208	5,820	388
1998-99	5,116	4,800	316
1999-2000	5,356	5,069	287
2000-01	5,114	4,899	215
2001-02	*	5,242	*

Sources: Higher EducationStatistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC).

Notes:

*This data is not yetavailable.

1. The term “graduate”refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degreelevel or above; the term “diplomate” refers to a student who has successfullycompleted a course at higher education (sub-degree) level.

2. Overseas is defined hereas non-UK domicile.

3. These figures exclude allopen and distance learning students as those students are not deemed to be“studying in” Scotland.

4. SFEFC collects andpublishes data on enrolments on individual courses at further education colleges.As individuals commonly enrol on more than one course in an academic year, thenumber of enrolments is significantly higher than the number of students.

5. Data shown is for courseswith length greater than six months or 26 weeks.

The Scottish Executive does not provide support for overseas students, with the exception of studentsfrom EU member states who are entitled to the same tuition fee support as Scottishdomiciled students. The Executive has no plans to review the position in this area.

The Executive does not hold dataon the number of overseas students who returned to their home countries on completionof studies at Scottish institutions.

First Destination Surveys, conductedby the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Scottish Further EducationFunding Council, provide some information on the destinations of higher educationlevel graduates and diplomates immediately on completion of studies at Scottishfurther and higher education institutions. Available data indicates that for academicyear 1997-98, 13% of overseas higher education level graduates and diplomates fromScottish institutions took up opportunities for work or further study in Scotland. Thecomparable figure for academic year 1998-99 was 18%. Since 1999-2000 informationon first destinations of non-EU graduates and diplomates has not been collectedby HESA.

Information on destinations ofstudents at further education level is not available.

Notes:

1. The term “graduate” refersto a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above;the term “diplomate” refers to a student who has successfully completed a courseat higher education (sub-degree) level.

2. The figures quoted are onknown destinations of primarily full-time graduates and diplomates.

3. Figures exclude all open anddistance learning students from higher education institutes and furthereducation colleges.

4. Source: Higher Education StatisticsAgency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

The Scottish Refugee IntegrationForum has recommended that asylum seekers be allowed access to part-time HigherNational courses on the same basis as currently applies for non-advanced courses.We are working with institutions and the funding councils to ensure that asylumseekers will be eligible for fee waiver support in respect of such courses and forhardship support in respect of books and, if appropriate, travel passes, from academicyear 2003-04.

The relevant guidance has beenamended and issued to institutions.