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We have a long tradition of attracting students from all over the world to come to study at Scottish universities. This is something we value and want to continue. At the same time, we have a duty to ensure that Scottish domiciled students continue to have fair access to opportunities to study at our universities. Both the Enterprise and Culture Committee and the Higher Education Review urged ministers to respond to the likely implications of top-up tuition fees being introduced in England. I make no apology for putting the interests of Scottish domiciled students first when developing our response to the introduction of top-up tuition fees in England.

The Scottish Executive does not have cases referred to it specifically because of concerns about asbestos disposal from brownfield sites. Local authorities are the competent authorities for land use planning matters in Scotland and they consult the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on a broad range of planning applications. SEPA’s responses are not, however, recorded in such a way as to identify applications where asbestos related issues have been raised.

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) is responsible for the administration and regulatory aspects of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme. The functions of that agency fall within my portfolio.

Occupational pension policy is a reserved matter and HM Treasury directly fund most of the public service pension scheme costs. Scottish ministers are responsible for producing the detailed public service pension scheme regulations but this generally only extends to ensuring that scheme regulations are consistent with Scottish administrative and legal requirements whilst remaining in line with UK Government policy. In addition there is an underlying requirement to, where possible, maintain uniformity in public service pension schemes across the UK.

Following agreement on public service pension scheme reforms at UK level, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency together with colleagues in the Department for Education and Science will review the pension arrangements for teachers taking account of the responses to the recent consultation exercise on the various options for a new scheme. Scottish ministers will then consider the final design of the new teachers’ scheme in Scotland and bring forward detailed draft regulations for consultation. It is likely to be later this year before final decisions are made.

The STSS is currently being reviewed in common with all public service pension schemes throughout the UK as a result of the UK Government’s plans to raise the normal pension age for most public servants from 60 to 65.

The Scottish ministers have already guaranteed that the pensions of existing teachers will be protected until 31 August 2013. Existing teachers will retain the right to retire at age 60, but pension rights accrued after 1 September 2013 will be subject to actuarial reduction as they will be calculated on a normal pension age of 65. Teachers joining the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme will be subject of a pension age of 65 with effect from 1 April 2006.

Consultation on the proposed changes ended on 14 January and the results are still being analysed. In addition, the UK Government announced on 18 March that it would enter into further negotiations with trade unions. No firm decisions have yet been made as negotiations are still on-going.

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), who are responsible for the administration and regulation of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme (STSS) provide information about membership of the scheme to the Government Actuary so that he can undertake the quinquennial review of the scheme. Data is provided on a number of aspects of the scheme, including ill-health and mortality. The Government Actuary’s Report can be obtained from the SPPA.

The Executive has not carried out any research on the effects of long service on teachers’ performance.

The Winding Down Scheme, which is a phased retirement option as proposed in the agreement, A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century was introduced to the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme with effect from 1 July 2002. This scheme allows teachers to enter part-time winding down employment but to be credited with full service during the winding down period.

To date 41 further education colleges have been registered approved ILA Scotland learning providers.

The Executive has had no direct discussions with HSE on this issue.

The purpose of the personal fellowshipscheme, run by the Royal Society of Edinburgh on behalf of the Scottish Executive, is to encourage talented researchers at the start of their career to remainin Scotland to develop outstanding research. While there is no maximumage limit, the guidelines indicate that the applicant should normally be aged 32or under, and that older applicants who have had a career break are also eligible.All applications received are considered on the basis of merit.

 Following advice in the Scottish Science Advisory Committee’sreport Investing in Scientific Talent, I have asked the Royal Society ofEdinburgh to undertake, during 2005, a full, independent review of the personalfellowships scheme in order to ensure that it fulfils our current objectives. Thisreview will consider all aspects of the current guidelines.