4. To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that educational campuses have appropriate and adequate levels of accessibility for disabled students. (S5O-02210)

We have in place a range of legislation and guidance to ensure adequate levels of accessibility for disabled students. Responsible bodies, including education authorities and independent and grant-aided schools, are required to develop and publish accessibility strategies to improve, over time, access to the curriculum, the physical environment and school information for pupils with disabilities.

I know a bright young woman who attends the cross-party group on muscular dystrophy who is applying for university. Her choices should be completely unlimited. However, because she is in a wheelchair, her choices are limited by the accessibility of campuses. What action will the Government take to improve accessibility and to inform disabled students about accessibility, particularly in higher education institutions?

I am concerned to hear the detail that Jackie Baillie recounts. If she writes to me and the Minister, we will look directly into that case.

Separate supports are in place, either through the student awards agency or the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, in which funding is allocated to try to address some of those issues in a practical way. Individual students will present for courses where there may be challenges in the existing physical estate, or there may be other issues where resources should be applied to try to ensure that there are no barriers to their learning.

I think that measures are in place to try to address the scenario that Jackie Baillie paints but, as I have said, if she writes to me with the details, we will look into the matter and see what we can do to address the issue.