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Following exam changes in 2020, the Scottish Government asked the Scottish Funding Council to fund additional places in Scotland’s universities in AY 2020-21. These places will continue to be funded in AY 2021-22 along with further additional places for affected 2020 students starting their studies in AY
‎ 2021-22.

Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) data covering the 2021 cycle, published in February, shows that, in total across all domiciles, there were 132,960 applicants making 310,190 applications for a Scottish University by the January deadline.

The following link provides further details, including specific domicile groupings:

https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-releases/applicant-releases-2021/2021-cycle-applicant-figures-january-deadline

The Scottish Funding Council continues to work closely with the Universities to determine their AY 2021-22 requirement as definitive student numbers will not be known until courses start.

In January 2021, the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport accepted the NHS Lanarkshire’s recommendation of Wester Moffat as the preferred site option for a new University Hospital Monklands. NHS Lanarkshire is currently preparing an Outline Business Case which will then be submitted to Scottish Government for consideration.

The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to the use of animals in scientific procedures which is a matter reserved to the UK Government.

University entry requirements vary among universities and between subject, and also vary over time as demand for particular subjects and courses increases or decreases. As autonomous bodies universities are responsible for their own policies and procedures, including setting entry requirements for each course they offer.

Following exam changes in 2020, the Scottish Government asked the Scottish Funding Council to fund additional places in Scotland’s universities in AY 2020-21. These places will continue to be funded in AY 2021-22 along with further additional places for affected 2020 students starting their studies in AY 2021-22.

With the exception of the controlled subjects (i.e. medicine, pre-registration nursing and midwifery education, dentistry and initial teacher education), the Scottish Government does not direct individual institutions on the number of funded places to make available for eligible students.

Minimum entry requirements (access thresholds) for SIMD20 students have been set by all Scottish universities and were published for the very first time in 2019 (for AY 2020-21 entrants).

All of Scotland’s higher education institutions (excluding The Open University in Scotland as it has a different admissions system) have committed to guaranteeing an offer of an undergraduate place at university to care-experienced applicants who meet minimum entry requirements. This was effective from autumn 2019 for learners entering university in autumn 2020.

We remain absolutely committed to the principle that access to education should be based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay. Every child growing up in Scotland, regardless of their background, should have an equal chance of attending university and participating in higher education.

The establishment of the Site Recovery Group was one of the recommendations from the report of the Buchanan and St Ambrose Independent Review, and we welcome the Group's report.

North Lanarkshire Council has assured us that it is taking action as quickly as possible to resolve the issues raised by the Chair within the Group’s report.

As it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, any further questions on this matter should be put to the Council directly.

I refer the member to the recent press release dated 22 May 2021 which is available on the Scottish Government website and can be found at www.gov.scot/news/scotlands-response-to-the-covid-19-crisis-in-india/ .

Concerns raised over the rising number of Covid-19 cases in South Glasgow over the past several days and its links to the more infectious Indian variant of COVID-19 B.1.617.2.

The JCVI highlighted the need to accelerate and promote vaccine uptake for everyone within priority groups 1-9 who have yet to be vaccinated, and bring forward the dose schedule from 12 to 8 weeks in areas where the 02 variant is of the highest threat.

The JCVI’s advice is that an age-based approach is the best way to quickly protect those who haven’t yet had the vaccine.

Wind and weather information in respect of the Queensferry Crossing and the Forth Road Bridge are published on a daily basis at https://www.theforthbridges.org/plan-your-journey/wind-and-weather/ . Historical records are available on request at enquiries@bearscotland.co.uk .

A review of ferry fares policy is being undertaken as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP), the successor to the current Ferries Plan (2013-22). This will consider issues such as seasonality and inform future ferry service contracts.

The Scottish Government did not seek any advice on whether the discharge of patients who had not been tested for COVID-19 or had tested positive from hospital to care homes was unlawful. Any decision on whether a patient is ready for discharge is a clinical one, made by the clinician in charge. Where someone is most appropriately cared for after discharge is based on a multi-disciplinary assessment involving the individual and their family carers. In cases where a patient lacks capacity, an appointed guardian or carer with power of attorney, will be involved. If somebody is discharged to a care home it is because that has been assessed as the best place to meet their needs.

In March 2020 the Scottish Government issued guidance which stated that prior to people being admitted to a care home whether from hospital or the community, clinical screening should be undertaken of patients alongside a risk assessment to ensure sufficient resources including appropriate isolation facilities are available within the care home to support social distancing and isolation. The guidance recommended all admissions to be isolated for 7 days and if known to have contact with COVID patients for 14 days. Both clinical decisions around discharge and risk assessments are undertaken locally by health and social care professionals. There is no involvement of Scottish Ministers.

On 21 April 2020 the then Health Secretary announced that all admissions to care homes from hospital should have a negative test for COVID-19 prior to admission to the home, regardless of symptoms unless it is in the clinical interests of the patient to be moved, and then only after a full risk assessment. Where a patient has tested positive for Covid two negative tests are required. This policy is reflected in both Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland guidance for care homes.

On 28 October 2020 Public Health Scotland published analysis of discharges to care homes between 1 March and 31 May 2020. This report was subsequently updated on 21 April 2021 This report is available on the Public Health Scotland website at https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/discharges-from-nhsscotland-hospitals-to-care-homes/ .