Seòmar agus comataidhean

I will put you on the spot. You are talking about dealing with the matter on an expedited basis. How quickly do you think you will get to the point at which you have identified whether flexibilities are available to you to offer to colleges and whether you are prepared to make that offer?

Good morning again, minister. As you are well aware, there have been some localised but significant issues with access to student accommodation at certain universities this year. When such situations arise, to what extent does the Government record or monitor the availability of student accommodation in those localities, and to what extent does it enter into dialogue with those universities in seeking to achieve an outcome?

Good morning, minister. You used the word “challenge”. How big a challenge do you accept has been posed to Scotland’s colleges by a flat cash settlement for the coming years?

Good morning again, minister. As you are well aware, in recent times, we have had issues in specific localities with university student accommodation. What is the Government’s role in that regard? What is the position on recording and monitoring the availability of student housing in relation to each university? When an issue arises, what dialogue is there and what role do Government officials have in engaging with individual universities in seeking to achieve an appropriate outcome?

I do not think he is here.

I have one follow-up question. Obviously, I welcome the actions that you have identified, but, given what happened this year, how optimistic are you that the work can be progressed, in conjunction with the universities, at sufficient pace to ensure that there is no repetition of the issue in the next academic year, as we hope will be the case?

Clearly not.

It is self-evident that each of your areas will differ in how they deliver on the four strategic priorities. I absolutely get that. However, I am interested in how you account for how you do that and, perhaps more importantly, how it is made obvious to people who take an interest where your ELC offer sits alongside other local government work and how it impacts things such as family support, employment and poverty reduction programmes. How do you pull it all together to say, “This is what we do”?

I should acknowledge that the petitioner is a constituent of mine. I pay tribute to her, because it is her tenacity that has ensured that quite significant strides have been made in this regard, and she has achieved a very great deal through her efforts. We have guidance, which I understand she has helped to shape. I think that that guidance should be implemented now and be given a period to bed in.

Having said all that, I think that the appropriate course of action would be to close the petition, with a couple of caveats. The Scottish Government has indicated that the successful, or otherwise, roll-out of the guidance will be monitored, and it does not rule out the guidance being put on a statutory footing in the future. Recognising that, we should perhaps write to the Government, asking for an understanding of the immediate next steps and how it will monitor and assess successful implementation, or otherwise.

Additionally, in the committee’s legacy paper, we could suggest that our successor committee might wish to return to the subject and carry out a piece of work in the next session of Parliament, if that is necessary, to review whether the guidance has served its purpose and whether the proposed non-statutory footing has proven adequate.

Good morning. My initial question is directed to each of the three councils. If I was a parent living in your area, where would I go to find your strategic plan and how detailed is it?