The Scottish Government has not routinely collected detailed statistics on the provision of PE in schools either before or since the one-off compilation of statistics in 2005.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government has a target of 62 days from referral to treatment for those patients who have symptoms related to a cancer. This necessitates quick access to a cancer specialist, diagnostic tests and results in order to meet the target.

This year we are providing almost £600 million in resource funding for colleges, a record level of support and evidence of this administration''s continued commitment to our further education sector.

In his strategic letter of guidance to the Scottish Funding Council earlier this year, The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning made clear his wish to see colleges give priority to give to 16 to 24-year-olds, including those who need more choices and chances. Our ambitions for all young people are reflected in our key learning strategies, including Skills for Scotland, 16+ Learning Choices, and Curriculum for Excellence.

Addressing the needs of the More Choices, More Chances (MCMC) group is therefore a mainstream activity for all colleges and we expect an element of the substantial resource we make available to be deployed to that end.

We recognise, however, that MCMC is a challenging agenda. It was against this background that the Scottish Funding Council allocated some specific and additional funding for strategic improvements in targeted colleges that might inform improvement across the sector. This funding was allocated as follows overleaf.

Table 1: Additional MCMC Allocated Funding 2007-08 to 2009-10

College	2007-08 (£000)	2008-09 (£000)	2009-10 (£000)
Anniesland	192,884	192,884	192,884
Cardonald	275,805	275,805	275,805
Central	119,765	119,765	119,765
Clydebank	217,907	217,907	217,907
Glasgow Met	198,717	198,717	198,717
John Wheatley	107,979	107,979	107,979
North Glasgow	154,780	154,780	154,780
Langside	171,192	171,192	171,192
Stow	69,909	69,909	69,909
Glasgow Nautical	76,191	76,191	76,191
James Watt	570,318	570,318	570,318
Kilmarnock	230,867	230,867	230,867
Dundee	400,092	400,092	400,092
Ayr	101,093	101,093	101,093
Forth Valley	112,500	112,500	112,500

 

Colleges are required to live within their means, however we do endeavour to help meet additional demands by redistributing surpluses where possible. In 2009-10 we redistributed £686,728.40 of higher education discretionary funds and £11,943,839 of further education discretionary funds in response to requests from colleges. These funds can be used to help students in financial difficulties as well as provide childcare support.

We are working with a group of key stakeholders to finalise the regulations for tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland. The regulations will set out the conditions that a scheme must meet before it can be approved by Scottish ministers. Our objective is to introduce these regulations as soon as possible.

A number of options are currently being considered following extensive consultation with key stakeholders. It is expected that the results of the review will be published later this summer.

Scottish Government officials, in conjunction with stakeholders, are currently considering a number of options as part of the review of funding arrangements for childcare in further and higher education. We will continue to consult with relevant stakeholders as necessary at every stage of the review.

A number of options are currently being considered as part of the review of childcare funding arrangements in further and higher education. These options are being considered in conjunction with key stakeholders.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34354 on 18 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Regulations governing approval of tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland will be introduced by means of a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI). The regulations will be subject to affirmative procedure and Parliament will require to give its approval before it can come into effect.