Informal discussions helped shape the suggested locally co-ordinated approach that you can find in the draft Onshore wind Policy Statement, however only through our consultation will we know if these stakeholders are happy with the approach proposed as it has now been presented to stakeholders in its final form until publication. The statement is currently open for consultation until the 30 May. It is through the results of this formal consultation that the Scottish Government will proceed with or amend this approach and this is where our focus will now turn. All comments on this question and the consultation as a whole are encouraged.

The Energy Consents Unit employs 15 members of staff to assess section 36 and 37 applications under the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit employs no (a) environmental experts, (b) chartered landscape architects, (c) planners and (d) solicitors. In assessing such applications, the Scottish Government has access to expert advice from its statutory stakeholders namely, Local Planning Authorities, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish National Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland. In addition, subject to the details of the application, a wide range of other stakeholders may also be consulted where their specific expertise is required. Details of the individuals and resources utilised by these organisations is an operational matter for each of the bodies concerned and is not held centrally.

The Energy Consents Unit also utilises solicitors within Scottish Government Legal Directorate and on a project specific basis may also consult with Senior Counsel and the Lord Advocate.

The Scottish Government’s £12 million Transition Training Fund is focused on supporting people who have lost or face losing their jobs in the oil and gas sector and the support will help to transition into other roles in the oil and gas industry, and other energy industry and manufacturing employment. To date, more than 1900 individuals have been supported with training support while up to a further 755 are being provided with employment opportunities through two larger scale procurement rounds. The Fund is providing support by offering grants to individuals to support redeployment through retraining and upskilling. The fund is also helping people with the costs of maintaining any licences needed to work in the sector, and develop options to enable individuals to bring their skills and expertise into teaching. To note, the applicant will be required to give evidence of current job opportunities within the marketplace before receipt of support from the fund.

Health and Social Care Integration seeks to ensure that those who use services receive the right care and support whatever their needs, at any point in their care journey. With a greater emphasis on community-based care, local systems will deliver more person-centred services, improving outcomes for service-users, including those who have had a stroke.

Rehabilitation pathways from hospital care to community care are in place for individuals who have had a stroke. Through our work to deliver the priority actions identified in the Stroke Improvement Plan, we are seeking to ensure that people who have had a stroke get access to the care and support they need to help them to return to independent living.

The Transition Training Fund is providing support to those individuals who need help with the costs of maintaining any licences needed to work in the sector. The applicants will be required to be able to demonstrate the evidence base for potential job opportunities in order to demonstrate the need for the maintenance of the license.

All eligible students, regardless of their household income, can access a student loan of £4,750 per year. The current rate of interest on these loans is 1.25% and, once graduated, students pay back 9% of their earnings above the current earnings threshold of £17,775 per annum. Average student loan debt in Scotland continues to be the lowest in the UK.

The on-going independent review of student support in Scotland is considering whether the current system is effective and fair overall. Examination of the operation of the student loans system forms part of this work.

We are committed to providing all students, especially those in our most deprived communities, with the financial support they need to succeed.

The level of bursary or loan support a student in higher education can access is determined by their household income, rather than the level of multiple deprivation in the area in which they live.

As well as free tuition, students with a household income below £19,000 are eligible for a minimum income guarantee (comprising a bursary and living-cost loan) of £7,625 per year.

Source: SAAS

Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest five.

* Provisional figures for 2016-17 are subject to revision, such as the addition of new or unprocessed applications.

I announced last year that an independent review of further and higher education student support would be chaired by Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money. The Review is underway and has a remit to thoroughly review the system of student support to ensure that it is fair and effective. In particular, it will explore the most effective support for the poorest and most vulnerable students. The Review is scheduled to report to Ministers by Autumn 2017.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report which was published in February 2016, highlighted the need for a responsive and flexible approach to health system governance, which balances national and local roles.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is a non departmental public body which operates independently of ministers and the health service. The performance of HIS is scrutinised at regular public Board meetings by Non-Executive Directors and, in accordance with the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, external auditors appointed by the Auditor General for Scotland review performance and governance annually.

It provides improvement support, which can be tailored to partners’ circumstances; evidence for improvement, including clinical guidelines and advice on best practice; and public assurance on the quality of services that are provided. This approach recognises that inspection alone will not drive improvement and having improvement, evidence and assurance, along with the public voice, in one organisation provides a simple and effective organisational structure for improving the quality of care in Scotland.

HIS has a wide range of powers at its disposal including the ability to direct an NHS board to close a ward to new admissions on the grounds of safety.