Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27175 on 22 September 2009. 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.

This age restriction was approved by the previous Scottish Government. The repayment in full of student loans is a key factor in ensuring that the current system of student support remains affordable. It is significantly less likely that a loan provided to a student aged 55 or over will be repaid in full due to a combination of factors, including the student''s age and levels of income. It is also less likely that students over 55 will have the financial responsibilities of younger mature students, many of whom support young and growing families. Students over 55 are also much more likely to have other resources from which they can support themselves while studying.

The £0.7 million to Food Industry Support is to create and safeguard jobs in Scotland''s Food and Drink industry.

No. The government does not consider that the policy of limiting eligibility for students loans to students under the age of 55 constitutes unlawful age discrimination. This is because the relevant legislation, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 do not apply to state funded student support.

Due to a misallocation at the time of the Spending Review 2007, the budget for the Rural Affairs and Environment Portfolio was overstated by £325,000 in each of the three spending review years, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 with compensating understatements in the Local Government Portfolio.

This misallocation was rectified for all three years at the 2008-09 Autumn Budget Revision last October by a transfer from the Animal Health budget. Later in 2008-09, the money was reinstated in the Animal Health budget from savings within the Portfolio, and, subject to parliamentary approval, the Animal Health budget for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be increased by £325,000 at Autumn Budget Revision this year and next respectively.

Yes, this government is aware that students up to the age of 60 in England and Northern Ireland are eligible for student loans. The repayment in full of student loans is a key factor in ensuring that the current system of student support remains affordable. It is significantly less likely that a loan provided to a student aged 55 or over will be repaid in full due to a combination of factors, including the student''s age and potential levels of income.

The revision of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

Each individual local authority has the responsibility to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local and national needs and priorities.

Delivering Zero Waste is a national and local priority. The Zero Waste Plan for Scotland, which is currently out to consultation, sets out the Scottish Government vision, recognises the waste hierarchy and gives prominence to waste prevention, reduction and re-use over other forms of treatment including recycling and recovery.

Prior to 1 April 2009, Scottish Natural Heritage had provided financial support to individual local authority natural heritage projects and activities through their grant scheme.

As part of the concordat agreed by Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Scottish ministers agreed to transfer to the Local Government finance settlement for 2009-10 and 2010-11, the resources which had previously been paid through these grant arrangements thus giving local authorities increased scope to determine local priorities.

The budget reduction in 2010-11 is largely attributable to the anticipated completion of the new Fish Veterinary Aquaria for which additional capital provision was made available in 2009-10, and subsequently augmented by an additional £3.6 million of capital provision accelerated from 2010-11.