§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of Stale for Scotland what is his target for the percentage of adults returning to education and training; what plans he has to increase student grants to the level of the present grant plus the present student loan; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 29 April 1994]: My right hon. Friend has no specific target for adults returning to education and training, but he has endorsed the target set by the Advisory Scottish Council for Education and Training Targets which is that, by 1996, all employees should take part in training or development activities.
On student support, we announced last November that we would gradually adjust the relative amounts of grant and loan over the next few years with the aim of bringing the two elements into broad balance in 1996–97. We have no plans to change those arrangements.
§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage more adults to enter further and higher education, with particular reference to the making of Scottish Office Environment Department grants to students taking courses on a part-time basis.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 29 April 1994]: More adults than ever before are entering further and higher education in Scotland and we are encouraging more part-time study. Our vocational qualifications reforms are stimulating wider. access and progression. Education authorities have a discretionary power to make bursaries available to part-time students and I have no plans to change that.