- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council about cultural issues.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2013
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 16 April 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what impact recent changes to international student visas have had on Scotland’s universities.
Answer
The impact of the negative message that the UK Government’s student visa policies send to other countries is a significant concern for the Higher Education Sector (HEI). There is evidence that student numbers from countries which normally send high numbers of students to Scotland have decreased in recent years, which may reflect the changes to student visa rules implemented since 2010.
Higher Education Statistics Agency statistics show that the number of students from India in Scottish HEIs decreased from 3290 in 2010-11 to 2445 in 2011-12 – a reduction of 25.8%; and the number of students from Pakistan in Scottish HEIs decreased from 860 in 2010-11 to 645 in 2011-12 – a reduction of 24.9%. However, largely due to an increase in students from China, the overall non-EU student numbers at Scottish HEIs has increased from 27,880 in 2010-11 to 28,500 in
2011-12.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 16 April 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what impact non-EU students have on the Scottish economy.
Answer
In addition to fee income, international students also contribute to the Scottish economy through other expenditure (including accommodation and other day-to-day expenses) incurred during their studies in Scotland. According to a 2011 analysis carried out by London Economics, this expenditure is estimated at around £441 million per year.
International students also make an important contribution to the cultural diversity of our universities which enriches the intellectual environment for all students and encourages a global perspective and increased mobility among Scottish students and graduates. The international standing of our universities also reflects the ability to attract world-class researchers and staff from all parts of the international community.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 16 April 2013
To ask the Scottish Government how many non-EU students started studying at a university in Scotland in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
Answer
The total numbers of non-EU undergraduate and postgraduate entrants to Scottish universities were:
(a) 15,730 in 2010-11
(b) 16,085 in 2011-12
(c) the number for 2012-13 will not be available until March 2014.
In 2010-11 there were 12,680 Scottish-domiciled students studying at UK universities outwith Scotland, while 214,315 Scottish-domiciled students studied at Scottish universities. In 2011-12 there were 12,050 Scottish-domiciled students studying at UK universities outwith Scotland, compared to 205,130 Scots who studied within Scotland.
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Note: all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 16 April 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what the financial value is of non-EU students to Scotland’s universities.
Answer
Scottish higher education institutions received an overall income of £337 million from non-EU student course fees in 2011-12. This figure represents 11.8% of the total income of Scottish HEIs in that year (Higher Education Statistics Agency).
This income does not include other sources of income from non-EU students, such as accommodation fees or the course fees of non-EU students studying at a Scottish HEI campus located outside Scotland, for which the Scottish Government does not hold data.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 16 April 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are for the education sector of a significant decrease in the number of non-EU students.
Answer
International students bring a variety of benefits to the education sector. A reduction in international students would impact on an important source of funding for Scotland’s Universities. Equally important however is the potential reduction in cultural diversity which enriches the intellectual environment for all students and encourages a global perspective and increased mobility among Scottish students and graduates. The international standing of our universities also reflects the ability to attract world-class researchers and staff from all parts of the international community. And finally, as international students are not eligible to take up Scottish Government funded university places, there is of course no impact on the places available to Scottish-domiciled and EU students.
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2013
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2013
To ask the First Minister what recent analysis the Scottish Government has carried out of the impact of the UK Government's welfare reforms on the people of Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2013
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2013
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress has been made on rolling out insulin pumps to people with diabetes.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2013
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 March 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what organisations have received funding from the £300,000 it announced on 21 January 2013 for advice services dealing with requests for advice due to the UK Government’s welfare reforms; how much each has received; for what purpose in each case, and what regions will receive support from the fund.
Answer
The organisations that have received funding from the £300,000 announced on 21 January operate across Scotland. This funding is intended to relieve immediate pressure on advice organisations that are experiencing increased demands on their services as a result of the UK Government’s welfare reforms.
The breakdown of funding that has been allocated is detailed in the following table.
| Organisation | Amount | Purpose |
| CAS | £157,532 Ìý | Regional Seminars focusing on changes to the welfare system for CAB managers Local Bureaux awareness raising sessions in relation to welfare benefits and changes to the welfare system |
| Capability Scotland | £9,018 Ìý | Additional training and resources for frontline advice and support services in relation to welfare benefits |
| One Parent Families Scotland | £19,000 Ìý | General welfare reform and Universal Credit sessions for staff to help them advise lone parents. Training for staff on the new Child Maintenance scheme. |
| Shelter Scotland | £11,160 Ìý | Additional training and resources for frontline advice and support services in relation to welfare benefits |
| Age Scotland | £5,700 Ìý | Additional training and resources for frontline advice and support services in relation to welfare benefits |
| Money Advice Scotland | £18,950 Ìý | Upskill debt advisers on the implications of welfare reform through regional seminars |
| Enable | £8,856 Ìý | Additional training and resources for frontline advice and support services in relation to welfare benefits |
| Child Poverty Action Group | £39,284 Ìý | Produce Universal Credit Handbooks for general advisers General awareness training for national organisations in relation to welfare benefits and changes to the welfare system Welfare related training for front line staff |
| Child Poverty Action Group | £14,059 | Delivery of relevant welfare benefits advice and training for front-line staff, specialising in children related issues. |
| Barnardos | £8,903 | Providing relevant welfare benefits advice and training for front-line staff, specialising in children related issues. |
| Children 1st | £7,538 | Providing relevant welfare benefits advice and training for front-line staff, specialising in children related issues. |
- Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 March 2013
To ask the Scottish Government how the £1.7 million it announced on 21 January 2013 to provide support to advice services dealing with requests for advice due to the UK Government’s welfare reforms will be distributed; what criteria will be used to distribute it, and for what time period the fund will be available.
Answer
On 21 January, I announced a £5.4 million package of support for advice services, of which £1.7 million will be distributed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. This funding will be available in financial year 2013-14. We are working with stakeholders on the detailed arrangements for this funding, including the application process and criteria, and further information will be made widely available as soon as the arrangements have been finalised.
