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When National Renewables Infrastructure Fund (NRIF) was set up the overall assessment of the potential scale of the offshore wind industry was 28,000FTE. The purpose of NRIF is to support the development of the supply chain that creates these jobs. This sits alongside other investment measures and support mechanisms from Scottish Enterprise (SE), Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other public bodies.

The National Renewables Infrastructure Fund is not split out on an annual funding basis. Funding awards are made in response to the open call for Expressions of Interest.

To date, Scottish Enterprise (SE) has spent £2,567,935 to support the development of a range of N-RIF projects at various Scottish locations, namely Port of Dundee, Port of Leith, Rosyth, Methil, Hunterston, Inchgreen and Westway.

To date Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has spent £6,255,652 to support the development of a range of N-RIP projects at various HIE locations, namely, Kishorn, Arnish, Machrihanish, Nigg, Wick, Stornoway, Scrabster and Mallaig.

SE and HIE continue to work with owners at these various locations in developing proposals to meet current market opportunities.

In terms of private funding projects, again SE and HIE are working closely with site owners to progress consent applications and funding packages. Funding packages are in place for a number of other ports with differing public/private funding splits.

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council support a number of programmes which meet the cost of learning support and other reasonable adjustments required to accommodate students with additional support needs. Working with Buttle UK, the Scottish Funding Council is also supporting institutions to develop systems of support that are relevant to care leavers.

Where admission is concerned, this is a matter for the relevant university or college and all students are considered for entry alongside their peers. So long as the student is judged to have the potential to successfully complete a course, a university or college is able to make allowances with respect to their background or circumstances.

The Scottish Government does not collect this information.

Skills Development Scotland do not routinely collect information on whether apprentices have been in care. However, the Employer Recruitment Incentive which is available to support disadvantaged young people, including care leavers, was introduced at the start of 2012-13. The total numbers of individuals supported will be available at the end of the financial year.

Monitoring levels of apprentices with a disability, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, relies on self declaration by individuals to employers or training providers, either when applying for apprenticeship opportunities, or when they start training.

Skills Development Scotland advise that 0.4% of apprentices in training as at 31-12-2012 declared a disability. This figure of course does not include those apprentices who chose not to declare a disability.

Monitoring levels of apprentices with a disability relies on self declaration by individuals to employers or training providers, either when applying for apprenticeship opportunities, or when they start training.

Skills Development Scotland advise that 0.4% of apprentices in training as at 28-12-2012 declared a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010. This figure of course does not include those apprentices who chose not to declare a disability.

Skills Development Scotland do not routinely collect information on whether apprentices have been in care. However, an Employer Recruitment Incentive which is available to support disadvantaged young people, including care leavers, was introduced at the start of 2012-13 and the total numbers of individuals supported will be available at the end of the financial year.

No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers.

The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have any learning difficulties or disabilities. The latest APS data covers the period from October 2011 to September 2012.

In Scotland it is estimated that there are 15,000 people aged 16 and over with learning difficulties or disabilities who are in employment, education or training. It is estimated that they account for approximately 0.6% of all those aged 16+ in employment, education or training.

The APS is a population survey and so there is an amount of variability in this estimate.

Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Level rounded to nearest thousand, percentage based on unrounded figures.

2. The sub-group of interest here is relatively small therefore this estimate is not as reliable as those for the total population aged 16+.

3. Learning difficulties and disabilities includes conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia; mental impairments or mental handicap.

No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers.

The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have any learning difficulties or disabilities. The latest APS data covers the period from October 2011 to September 2012.

In Scotland it is estimated that there are 9,000 people aged 16 and over with learning difficulties or disabilities who are in employment. It is estimated that they account for approximately 0.3% of all those aged 16+ in employment.

The APS is a population survey and so there is an amount of variability in this estimate.

Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

Notes:

1. Level rounded to nearest thousand, percentage based on unrounded figures.

2. The sub-group of interest here is relatively small therefore this estimate is not as reliable as those for the total population aged 16+.

3. Learning difficulties and disabilities includes conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia; mental impairments or mental handicap.

No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers.

The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have any learning difficulties or disabilities. The latest APS data covers the period from October 2011 to September 2012.

In Scotland it is estimated that there are 15,000 people aged 16 and over with learning difficulties or disabilities who are in employment, education or training. Approximately 39.6% of all those aged 16+ with learning difficulties or disabilities are in employment, education or training; this is not the same as the employment rate for this group as it is based on those aged 16+ including those beyond retirement age.

The APS is a population survey and so there is an amount of variability in this estimate.

Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Level rounded to nearest thousand, percentage based on unrounded figures.

2. The sub-group of interest here is relatively small therefore this estimate is not as reliable as those for the total population aged 16+.

3. Learning difficulties and disabilities includes conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia; mental impairments or mental handicap.

With the support of the Scottish Funding Council, a number of colleges and universities in Scotland have achieved, or are working with Buttle UK to achieve, the Buttle Quality Mark. This accreditation programme recognises the provision of systems of support relevant to care leavers.

We do not hold information on individual students and their particular support needs. Colleges and universities consider applications on a case-by-case basis and are required under Equalities legislation to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate students with additional support needs.

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland administers the Disabled Student’s Allowance which provides support to students studying a course of higher education. The Scottish Funding Council also provides additional funding to higher education institutions in the form of the Disabled Students Premium.

In further education, there are two additional funding streams available to institutions. Dominant Programme Group 18 (DPG 18) includes programmes which are specifically designed to meet the needs of students with learning difficulties arising from one or more specific categories of disability. Extended Learning Support (ELS) students study on courses outwith DPG 18 and this funding recognises that ELS students also have needs which arise from specific disability categories and which require additional expenditure on the part of the college. On an individual level, students can apply to their college for the Additional Support Needs for Learning Allowance.