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As outlined in my statement to the Parliament on 16 June 2011, I will set out a wider package of reforms on post-16 education later this year. Any legislation on higher education would be brought forward next year as part of this wider package of reform.

Proposals on widening access for universities will be brought forward in a wider package of reforms on post-16 education, as mentioned in my response to S4W-696 on 23 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes non-continuation rates for higher education institutions in the UK as part of their performance indicators. These performance indicators examine non-continuation after the first year of degree courses for all entrants to Scottish institutions. The HESA performance indicators can be found at:

http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2064&Itemid=141.

It is not yet known whether UK ministers will allow university tuition fees in England to rise with inflation.

The additional £15 million announced for college student support in February 2011 reinforces our commitment to protect college students from the impact of the UK Government’s decision to reduce the Scottish block grant by £1.3 billion. We intend to consider the future of financial support for college students as an important part of our wider plans to review post-16 provision by colleges and others.

Measures to improve student support for university students will be brought forward in due course.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-118 on 31 May 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-117 on 31 May 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

There has been no compulsory redundancies in the Scottish Government, its agencies, NDPBs and non-ministerial departments during the period 2010-11. There is currently a no compulsory redundancy agreement in place for these organisations which runs up until 31 March 2012. There will, therefore, be no compulsory redundancies during this period. We do not hold information on other organisations.

This information is not held centrally.