None. The Air Discount Scheme, SA. 40925, was notified to the commission under the General Block Exemption Regulation Article 51 – Social aid for transport for residents of remote regions. This is valid from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2019, and replaces the full notification to the commission for SA.32497 - Aid of a Social Character for Air Services. This notification was made electronically and did not require any discussion with the European Commission.

As part of our work in response to the recent campaign about air fares from the Islands to the Scottish Mainland, the Scottish Government is considering various policy options to help address the issue.

As part of our work in response to the recent campaign about air fares from the Islands to the Scottish Mainland, the Scottish Government is considering various policy options to help address the issue.

Consistent with the plans outlined in the answer to question S4W-25348, that there would be one further member to bring a UK perspective, Conor Ryan from the Sutton Trust has been appointed as the final member of the Commission on Widening Access.

The commission’s published remit is consistent with the broad themes outlined in the answer to question S4W-25348.

Both the remit and final membership were made publically available on the commission’s website on 23 June 2015.

The remit was finalised at the commission’s meeting on 3 June 2015 and is published in full on the commission’s website:

http://www.commissiononwideningaccess.co.uk/#!remit/c7ox

The intention to create a Commission on Widening Access was published in the Programme for Government and formally announced to the Parliament by the First Minister on 26 November 2014.

In addition, the commission’s work has featured regularly in answers to parliamentary questions and in official press releases. The commission has also set up its own website and twitter account to keep interested parties informed of its work.

Since S4W-22028 answered on the 30 July 2014, the Scottish Island Renewables Delivery Forum has met on a further two occasions, in September 2014 and January 2015. As a result of close intergovernmental work the UK Government has recognised calls for additional support to help renewable generators on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles to overcome the high level of grid charges they would face. Significant progress has been made, and at the January meeting that I co-chaired with the former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey:

DECC announced it intended to publish details of strike prices for islands onshore wind for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 in July 2015.

DECC informed members that the State Aid pre-notification for remote island wind contracts for difference had been submitted to the European Commission.

The Secretary of State gave a commitment to take forward proposals to secure EU funding to help the Orkney marine sector overcome barriers to grid access.

I wrote to Ed Davey’s successor, the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd MP on 15 May 2015, and spoke with her on the 8 June 2015. She has agreed to the continuation of the delivery forum and confirmed her intention to attend its next meeting, which will be convened by September 2015. SHE-Transmission and Ofgem have both stated that they expect needs cases for the Western Isles and Shetland to be submitted at the end of 2015.

The additional £125 bursary payment is not a one off award. From academic year 2016-2017, the additional bursary payment of £125 will be embedded into the total available bursary and spread across eligible students’ monthly instalments.

For academic year 2015-2016 Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) will be treating the additional £125 separate to the normal monthly payment process. The £125 will be issued to eligible students as a one-off payment. SAAS are working on the detail of the exact timings of the payment date.

Yes. From academic year 2016-17 eligible ‘Young Students’ living in a household with an income below £19,000 will be entitled to the maximum bursary of £1,875.

Yes. From academic year 2016-2017 the additional bursary payment of £125 will be embedded into the total available bursary and spread across eligible students’ monthly instalments.