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Local authorities are obliged to offer advice and assistance to people who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness, and provide temporary accommodation if it is needed, including on an emergency basis. The Scottish Government supports local authorities to meet these statutory duties through annual funding delivered through the local government finance settlement but does not hold information on the amount of funding spent by local authorities on emergency temporary accommodation.

Colleges in Scotland operate as autonomous institutions, with governance frameworks that grant them independence in managing their operations including decisions about campus footprint, staffing, and curriculum.

This autonomy is designed to enable responsiveness to local needs and flexibility in delivering education. However, Ministers are clear that colleges are expected to ensure their strategic decisions reflect the needs of the people, the region, and the communities they serve.

In its development of the 10 year College Infrastructure Investment Plan, in collaboration with the sector and due to publish in autumn 2026, the Scottish Funding Council is looking at the whole college sector to ensure the approach to infrastructure is strategic and supports coherent provision.

Despite continuing fiscal challenges, the Scottish Government has increased the direct mental health programme budget for 2025-26 by 1.2% to £270.5 million. We expect total mental health spending to reach record levels – around £1.5 billion - in 2025-26. We have invested significantly in a range of mental health services, including allocating over £160 million since 2020 on community-based support for children, young people and adults. It is important to emphasise that students have access to, and benefit from, the support services provided by the NHS and in our communities.

We also continue to fund NUS Think Positive to work with colleges, universities and students’ associations to develop and promote their mental health support offer.

Our Student Mental Health Action Plan was published in September 2024. The Plan aims, through collaboration between colleges, universities, public and third sector, to join up support that is already available, embedding students into the wider communities in which they live and study. Through the Action Plan’s Delivery Group, the Scottish Government is bringing partners together to make this happen.

The Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) funding allocation to Scotland’s colleges for the current academic year (2025-26) equates to a 2.6% increase in funding for teaching activity, and a 4.8% increase for capital maintenance funding, to support colleges to continue to invest in student’s learning experiences.

In 2023-24, there was a reduction in very short courses which contributed to the reported decrease in overall college enrolments.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) regularly monitors college student numbers, including headcount, enrolment and full-time equivalent students. SFC publishes this information on an annual basis through its College Statistics 2023-24 - Scottish Funding Council.

Colleges receive funding from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) based on the number of credits they deliver. The SFC increased the credit price from 2023-24 which is an increase to the investment in each individual student.

We recognise that managing agents undertake a range of valuable services to support apprentices and employers. This includes pre-assessment, support materials, pastoral care and the delivery of final assessments (where appropriate).

The role, responsibilities and funding arrangements for managing agents are being considered as part of our work on apprenticeship reform. We are committed to working with Colleges Scotland, managing agents and key agencies including SDS and the SFC, to ensure that apprenticeship funding is sustainable for the future and focused on supporting apprentices to train and progress.

It is important that we retain all of the very best elements of the current system while maintaining best value for public funding.

It is important to expand the sources of income into the college sector, which is why the Colleges Tripartite Alignment Group, comprised of Colleges Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council, has been exploring the perceived barriers to income diversification and how to overcome them.

The Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) funding allocation to Scotland’s colleges for the current academic year (2025-26) equates to a 2.6% increase in funding for teaching activity, and a 4.8% increase for capital maintenance funding, to support colleges to continue to invest in student’s learning experiences.

The SFC provides regular advice to the Scottish Government on the pressures facing the college sector. This is based on the regular financial returns received from colleges.

As our national skills body, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have operational responsibility for managing apprenticeship funding and delivery in Scotland. SDS regularly monitor demand throughout the year to maximise apprenticeship opportunities, in line with key policy priorities.

The number and range of apprenticeships available are informed by industry demand and training capacity, within the constraints of available budgets and affordability. This involves close consultation with employers, employer groups and training providers, as well as priorities identified through reformed national and regional skills planning.

We are providing around £185 million for apprenticeships this year and are committed to working with the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland to understand the extent of demand, and in which sectors. Our aim is to ensure that funding is targeted most effectively to support sustainable economic growth and vital public services and provide best value for public investment.

The reason behind the withdrawal of £26m transition funding in 2023 is on record.

The funding was originally announced as part of the 2023-24 Budget to support strategic change and transformation in the college sector. That it had been necessary to take this as a required saving given new portfolio pressures was communicated in this letter to the Education Children and Young People Committee on 2 May 2023 found here: Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans.