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8/3/2019 Russell Student Travel Costs
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Runaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim agus lonnsachadh Fad-bheatha
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong LearningMichael Russell MSP/BPA
F IT : 08457741741
Ms Kezia Dugdale MSPThe Scottish ParliamentEDINBURGH
EH991SP
Ur faidhlelY our ref: GC-11 /10/11~aidhle/Our ref: 2011/1021381
iij"0ctober 2011
/'7' DELIVERING
A GA ME S LE GA C Y F OR S C OT IA N D
t -Thrt you for your letter of 15 October 2011 on behalf of your constituent, who is concerned
ab~:~ the changes to the student support funding of travel expenses for the academic year
2011-2012.
Firstly may I say that I fully appreciate the level of commitment shown by your constituent in
undertaking her teacher training course.
In the current financial climate with budgetary constraints, the Scottish Government had to
take some difficult decisions while continuing to make education accessible and trying to
ensure it focuses on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay. In listening to the views of
students and the Higher Education sector, it was clear that most students wanted more cash
in their pockets while they studied and better transparency about the funds available to them.
Therefore, for session 2011-12, support for travel costs were subsumed within the student
loan rather than being a separate, income-assessed and retrospective application process.This change allowed a 350 increase in the maximum income-assessed loan; providing
students from lower income backgrounds with a support package of approximately 6,200
and increased the total funds available to higher education students by approximately 1 OM
per annum. In making this change, we listened carefully the wishes of students, expressed
in the National Union of Students study "Still in the Red" which confirmed that students
wanted more cash.
Analysis of previous travel claims indicates that the vast majority of students will be better off
as a result of this change. However, it is clear that students like your constituent who
commute very long distances each day will not benefit from the change.
Taigh Naomh Anndrais, Rathad Regent, Dun Eideann EH1 3DG
St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
www.scotland.gov.uk
('' : J . > - . )
1 ," 'YF- '>TOR IS PE,OPU!
mailto:[email protected]://www.scotland.gov.uk/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/mailto:[email protected] -
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In recognition of this, institutions have been made aware that students commuting long daily
distances may experience some financial difficulties, which could lead to an increase in
applications to their Discretionary Funds. Although it is a matter for each institution as to
who receives support and how much that will be, the Discretionary Funds guidance issued to
institutions annually now clearly highlight the changes to travel, so institutions can manage
their funds accordingly.
I hope this information is helpful in responding to your constituent.
MICHAEL RUSSELL
Taigh Naomh Anndrais, Rathad Regent, Dun Eideann EHl 3DG
St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EHl 3DG
www.scotland.gov .uk
(~)IS\'ESTnR IS PEOPLE
http://www.scotland.gov/http://www.scotland.gov/ -
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