I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8561 answered 15 July 2004.which is on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be foundat http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answergiven to S2W-8561 answered 15 July 2004 which is on the parliament’s website, searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answergiven to S2W-08561 answered 15 July 2004 which is on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I am considering this submissionalong with all other information available to me and all representations made tome.

There is no payment threshold for the graduate endowment.

Liable graduates must pay the endowment on 1 April following graduation but may meet their liability by adding the amount to their student loan. There is a partnership agreement commitment to support a UK-wide increase to the repayment threshold for student loans.

The graduate endowment is part of the package of improved student support introduced in 2001-02 which includes bursaries for young students from low-income families. The first graduates liable to pay the endowment will complete courses this year and make their payments on 1 April next year. While we will continue to monitor participation in higher education in the light of the new support arrangements it is too early to begin to evaluate the effects of the graduate endowment.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is committed to achieving its target of transferring its housing stock through second stage transfers into community ownership. Seventeen housing associations have expressed an interest in being part of a prototype programme to be progressed during 2004-05. GHA is currently working with the local housing organisations and other stakeholders, including Communities Scotland, to agree the overall guidance and framework for second stage transfers and Communities Scotland will be responsible for monitoring GHA’s progress with this.

The introduction of the Young Student’s Bursary in 2001-02 will help ensure that young students from low income backgrounds, who are more likely to be discouraged from applying to university because of fear of debt, will have less debt than they would have had under the previous support arrangements.

A survey of Scottish students’ income and expenditure has been commissioned to provide us with an accurate picture of the financial position of students to inform future policy development.

The Executive recognises the need to see further improvements in levels of retention in further and higher education institutions. Scotland’s retention rates for higher education compare well with other countries, with a completion rate of 83% compared to the OECD average of 77%. In relation to further education, the overall retention rate is 85%.

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council currently monitors access and retention strategies through consideration of institutions’ strategic plans and reports on progress through a circular letter. It also discusses progress with higher education institutions through a programme of institutional visits. Both Further and Higher Education Funding Councils also monitor the annual performance figures on retention rates for colleges and higher education institutes and actively engage with institutions which appear to be underperforming in this area.

The Executive is also active in developing better collaboration between schools, colleges, Scottish Enterprise and careers guidance with a view to reducing the possibility of learners entering colleges and universities with misplaced aspirations.

The Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council recognise the additional cost of teaching students from non-traditional backgrounds and provide additional funding to support retention and completion from these groups.

The survey has been commissioned, is currently at the survey design stage and is expected to report by January 2005.