Scottish Government Funding

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the decision to withdraw funding for the (a) UKRC and (b) Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues around equality in science, including their withdrawal of funding to the UKRC and the impact this will have on the Scottish Resource Centre (SRC).

We have also highlighted the work the SRC do, most recently in our contribution to the UK participation at the 55 meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology and its work on tackling occupational segregation.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is very concerned at the potential loss of the delivery services provided by the Scottish Resource Centre. We are in regular contact with them and we are continuing to explore every avenue to help secure future funding.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in (a) colleges and (b) universities in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) the Lothians region in each of the last five years and what the annual change was expressed in real terms.

Michael Russell: The following tables show the funding allocated to higher education institutions (HEIs) and colleges in Scotland between 2004-05 and 2008-09, along with equivalent amounts at 2004-05 values (adjusted using HM Treasury GDP deflators) and the annual change of 2004-05 equivalent values.

Table 1. Funding Invested in Scottish HEIs in Edinburgh and the Lothians (£000): 2004-05 to 2009-10

Source: Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

2004-05 value calculated using HM Treasury GDP deflators December 2010 update.

Table 2. Funding Invested in Scotland’s Colleges in Edinburgh and the Lothians (£000s): 2004-05 to 2009-10

Source: Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

2004-05 value calculated using HM Treasury GDP deflators December 2010 update.

Figures from 2006-07 to 2009-10 are made up of gross resources, notional fees, fee waiver (initial allocation), bursary allocation and capital grants, while the figures for 2005-06 are partly made up of grant in aid instead of gross resources.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding for bursaries has been allocated to (a) colleges and (b) universities in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Michael Russell: Funding for bursaries for full-time higher education (HE) students in Scotland is allocated through the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Table 1 shows the amount (in pounds sterling) paid as bursaries to HE students in Edinburgh and Lothian regions from 2005-06 to 2009-10 by SAAS. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) allocates funding for bursaries for full-time further education (FE) students studying at Scottish colleges to the institutions who then decide how this money will be allocated. Table 2 shows how much funding was allocated to Scottish colleges for FE students in each year from 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Table 1. Total bursary payments to students studying in Edinburgh and Lothians, 2005-06 to 2009-10 (£)

Source: Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Notes:

1. Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) includes students from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Ayr. It was not possible to separate the students who are at the different campuses, therefore SAC has not been included as an Edinburgh institution.

2. SAAS provide financial support for higher education (HE) students. This encompasses students on courses at HNC and HND levels and degree and post graduate course levels.

3. The data in this table only includes mainstream students funded by SAAS. Students on pre-registration nursing or midwifery courses are funded through the NMSB scheme and are not included in these figures.

4. The bursary included in the total figures is Young Students’ Bursary. This is the only bursary that Scottish students studying in Scotland were eligible for between 2005-06 and 2009-10.

Table 2. Total bursary funding to colleges studying in Edinburgh and Lothians, 2005-06 to 2009-10 (£)

Source: Scottish Funding Council (SFC).