§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students at each further education college have had their grants withdrawn because of sickness absence of more than 28 days in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonStudents at further education colleges in Scotland may be eligible for support from either the Student Awards Agency for Scotland or their education authority, depending on the nature of their course.
No student in receipt of support from the awards agency would have his or her grant withdrawn solely on the grounds of a sickness absence of more than 28 days. There is provision for the level of grant to be adjusted, exceptionally, after the student returns to study where there has been a significantly lower maintenance requirement during the period of absence.
Where a student withdraws from his or her course—permanently or temporarily—following a prolonged period of sickness the maintenance grant will be terminated with effect from the date of withdrawal. Details of the reasons for individual withdrawals are not held centrally.
The terms and conditions on which education authorities in Scotland offer assistance to students are entirely at the discretion of the authority concerned.