To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure that students applications for loans will be dealt with by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland timeously.

Eligible students entering higher education in academic year 1999-2000, and those who entered in 1998-99, are able to apply for means-tested help with their tuition fees and for a partly means-tested maintenance loan. The need to apply the means test to both elements of assistance has involved significant changes in the application process.

The students affected should apply to the Awards Agency in good time for both tuition fee and maintenance support. Details of their entitlement will be notified to the students and his or her parents or spouse, as appropriate. The information on tuition fee support will also be passed to the institution concerned and that on loan entitlement to the Student Loans Company Limited.

The necessary changes to the Agency’s computer software have been made and it is currently processing applications under the new arrangements. It has also engaged additional seasonal staff to meet the peak demand and it is accepting applications from students on the basis of conditional offers.