Seòmar agus comataidhean

Tuition fees for postgraduate study are not regulated by the Scottish Government and each individual higher education institution is responsible for setting their own fee rates for postgraduate courses, including the Diploma in Legal Practice.

However, the Scottish Government does provide students with loan support for postgraduate study. Following a recent review of postgraduate funding, in academic year 2017-18 we increased the maximum level of available loan support to £10,000 (comprising £5,500 for tuition fees and £4,500 for living costs).

In addition to this students who require additional support for example with housing or travel costs, can apply for Discretionary Funds. These funds are allocated by Scottish Ministers and administered by individual universities.

Ministers are currently giving full and proper consideration to the proposal for a waste recycling facility to incorporate an energy recovery facility at South Street, Glasgow. You will appreciate that I cannot provide a specific date, but I will make a decision on this case as soon as possible. As Planning Minister I always ensure that no unnecessary delay occurs in the issue of a decision.

Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme. The contract for the scheme was awarded to Warmworks Scotland LLP in April 2015. Warmer Homes Scotland opened for applications on 1 September 2015 and was formally launched by the First Minister shortly after. Warmworks is a partnership between Everwarm, Changeworks and the Energy Saving Trust.

The following number of households had measures installed:-

• In 2015-16 - 1372 (from 1 September 2015 to 31 March 2016)
• In 2016-17 - 5326
• In 2017-18 - 4903

Further information on the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at: http://www.greenerscotland.org/home-energy/advice-and-grants/warmer-homes-scotland

and at the following published Freedom of Information requests:

28 February 2018 - HEEPS - Warmer Homes Scotland scheme - FOI release

The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan scheme launched in May 2017 offering interest free loans of up to £32,500 per home to owner occupiers and eligible registered private sector landlords in Scotland to install energy efficiency measures, renewable systems or connection to approved district heating schemes. At the close of the scheme on 31 March 2018:

(a) 128 registered private sector landlords had been offered loans

(b) 1276 owner occupier had been offered loans

The Home Energy Scotland Loan scheme re-launched on 24 April 2018 and now offers householders up to £38,500 with additional funding now available for energy storage systems, to date no loans have been offered.

Further statistical and funding information on the HES loan scheme 2017/18 can be found at the following published Freedom of Information requests:

• 9 March 2018 - Home Energy Scotland Loan Scheme: FOI release - gov.scot
• 21 March 2018 - Applications for the Home Energy Scotland Loan: FOI release - gov.scot

The Home Energy Scotland loan replaced two separate existing loan schemes: the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS) loan and the Home Energy Scotland Renewable loan.

Further information on the HEEPS loan scheme can be found at the following links:

• 12 December 2017 - Home Energy Efficiency Programmes loan scheme: FOI release - gov.scot
• 31 August 2017 - Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: summary delivery report 2015-2016 - gov.scot

The Scottish Government remains in contact with stakeholders and partner organisations to ascertain whether anyone in Scotland may be at risk. At the moment, no one has come forward indicating that they risk being removed from Scotland or that they have been refused access to services here as a result of this scandal.

The UK Government has announced a review of the decisions which led to the Windrush crisis. However, the Scottish Government does not believe this will fully address the root causes of the Windrush scandal – the hostile environment policy, driven by a target to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands. The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs wrote to the new Home Secretary on 1 May setting out the Scottish Government concerns about UK immigration policy and seeking an early meeting.

The Scottish Government is committed to co-designing the social security system with people who receive benefits. We will ensure that the assessment process, including any thresholds used, is built around the needs of clients to deliver dignity and respect.

We are currently working with key stakeholders and our Experience Panels to consider the relevant criteria.

Scottish Government officials have confirmed with Police Scotland the legal basis on which mobile phones and other electronic devices are searched using cyber kiosks, as set out in response to S5W-15845 which was answered on 26 April 2018.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

When the police seize a phone or another electronic device under the authority of a judicial warrant, statutory power or following a suspect’s arrest, it is lawful for them to examine that device for evidence. A person may also voluntarily provide their electronic device in the knowledge that it will be examined for evidence in relation to the particular crime under investigation.

The powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 are not relevant to searches of phones for evidential purposes.

The Scottish Government does not collect this information.

Between September 2013 and March 2016, we estimate that in 66% of the sales under Help to Buy (Scotland) the purchaser (or, in the case of joint purchasers at least one of the purchasers) was a first time buyer. This estimate is based on voluntary sales log forms, completed and returned by the purchasers.