 Mae'r angen o perthoed dros gyhoeddwyd y maen nhw rwy'n golyb o bwysigol, a'r angen o f dramethu, ond byddai ffansig, ond y gwaith o bwysigol yn y bwysigol. Rwy'n golyb o bwysigol mae i gael nifer mwy, nid o'r amgylchedd ddaf, ac yn hyw i gadael bod yn unig o bwysigol. Rwy'n golyb o bwysigol y nifer 2, Clare Baker. Rwy'n gweithio i'w clygu sportaidd i'r gyffredinidau Gyntafolol, oherwydd mae'n the university and college union, and which issues were discussed. I last met a representative of the university and college union as part of a wider meeting to discuss the higher education governance bill on 20 May this year. I am pleased that the cabinet secretary has been meeting the UCU over the higher education bill. The cabinet secretary will be aware of press reports raising concerns over the threat to the future of the well-respected religious studies department at Stirling University. My understanding is that those changes have been raised without recourse to the court or the academic council. Is the cabinet secretary confident that the higher education bill recommendations will go far enough in improving university governance and accountability in cases such as this? I thank the member for her question. I certainly have been aware of the press coverage over the potential closure of the department of religious studies at the University of Stirling. I am also aware that there is the only place to study religion without being at a Christian faculty of theology. Obviously, universities are autonomous and they are responsible for managing their own course provisions. I expect them to manage their fears in the spirit of consulting with staff, trade unions and always to minimise any impact on students. In keeping with the higher education governance bill, the whole resendet of that bill is to ensure that every voice on campus is heard and that all interests—whether staff, students or academics—are heard within the governing body. To ask the Scottish Government how the higher education governance Scotland bill will maintain democracy in universities. Ministers see this bill as creating a framework that strengthens our higher education sector, its institutions and traditions. To achieve that, it needs to be meaningful legislation that opens up the architecture of our institutions to be more diverse, inclusive and representative. At its heart, the bill seeks to enable every voice on campus to be heard. I thank the minister for her response. Despite the assurances that she has given the sector, we heard evidence this week at the Parliament's education committee from key leaders within the university sector who are concerned about the unintended consequences of the bill. Why does she disagree with David Ross, who is the chair of the committee of Scottish chairs, who yesterday reiterated his belief that the bill in its current form could damage accountability and diminish democracy within Scottish universities? Mr Fraser fails to recognise that there were a range of views and opinions expressed yesterday at the education committee. There is a wide spectrum of views. It is important to recognise that, although some senior voices in the world of higher education have concerns in relation to the bill, there are other voices that are of equal importance, whether that is staff, whether that is in the student bodies or indeed in the trade union movement. It is important to consider all the views of all the stakeholders in the round. At its heart, the bill is about ensuring that our world-class higher education system continues to evolve and remains fit for 21st century Scotland. I do not think that asking for the highest standards of governance is unreasonable to expect that, given that it is the taxpayer that invests £1 billion every year in higher education. In considering the views of all the stakeholders, can the cabinet secretary confirm that the highly valued role of Rector will continue and will she give an assurance that the Rector will still be able to chair the university court as part of Scotland's proud academic and democratic traditions? The Scottish Government appreciates the very valuable role that Rectors play in the ancient universities. They have raised the profile of the sector and have also been crucial in representing students. We have absolutely no intention at all of abolishing the position of Rector. We are listening to the views of all stakeholders on how elected chairs were work in all of our institutions. We will consider all constructive suggestions raised in evidence as we debate the detail of the bill in Parliament. It is important to stress that Rectors have kept the spirit of democracy alive within higher education, and it is that spirit of democracy, transparency and accountability that we would like to extend to every higher education institution in Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the head of Scotland's rural college. I have no current plans to meet the head of Scotland's rural college, however, if there are issues that the SRUC would like to discuss, I would of course be more than happy to do so. Joan McAlpine I thank the minister for that answer. SRUC recently failed to agree a merger with Edinburgh University, and I am concerned about the impact of that development on my region, most notably at Barony College in Dumfries. There is concern locally that SRUC senior management do not value the FE provision at Barony and are selling off assets to pay for management failures, yet the SRUC accounts show that the principal salary was £280,000 last year. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that the absolute priority of SRUC should not be inflated senior salaries but providing a wide range of training and education to all levels, including FE, to boost employment in rural Scotland and meet the needs of land-based industries, including farming? Of course, the priority should always be to provide educational opportunities, that boost employment. I am acutely aware of the importance of agricultural skills to the economy in Dumfries and Galloway, and I understand why the member and the community are keen to ensure a continued presence for the SRUC at the Barony campus. I understand that the SRUC remains committed to delivering land-based education and training in Dumfries, but I would be happy to discuss that with Ms McAlpine and a representative from SRUC further. To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the recent reforms to protecting vulnerable groups scheme are sufficient. Yes, we believe that the reforms of the disclosure and rehabilitation regimes in Scotland that took place on 10 September strike the right balance between public protection and the right of an individual who has spent convictions for less serious offences and who has put their past offending behaviour behind them to move on with their life. The reforms will continue to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected and that the background of an individual seeking to work with children and protected adults is assessed for relevant convictions. To that end, convictions for serious offences will continue to be disclosed even if spent. I fully accept the need for additional scrutiny of a person's background if that individual wants to work with vulnerable groups or on other sensitive roles. However, I am aware of a case where my constituent has had other relevant information placed on his protection of vulnerable groups scheme record at the request of the then chief constable of Drachly Police. Despite my constituent approaching disclosure Scotland, Police Scotland and the information commissioner's office, he has been unable to obtain details of the other relevant information held on his file, which has now had a detrimental effect on his coach and taxi business. What recourse, if any, does my constituent have in this situation? In addition, can the minister advise me whether there will be any plans when Parliament has a further opportunity to scrutinise the use of forms to change that, particularly anomaly? I thank the member for raising the issue. It is important to realise that that is about making sure that it is a proportionate regime that is in place to make sure that people can move on with their lives. However, that has to be balanced up with making sure that the right information is there to the people to make good decisions about who is going to be working with people, for instance, with vulnerable vulnerabilities. We are in a busy period of consultation over a since the cabinet secretary made the statement to Parliament, and I am happy to meet with the member to hear from her the specifics of the case that she is involved with to see if that can help to move that issue forward, but also to make any other representations that she wants to make with the justice minister to make that available to her as well. Many thanks. Question 6, Stuart McMillan. I ask the Scottish Government when, at last, met the Inverclyde Council to discuss education matters. We are in frequent contact with the Inverclyde Council about a wide range of education matters. In particular, Dr Allan performed the sword cutting ceremony for the new St Patrick's primary school in Greenock on 23 September, and I attended the launch of the Inverclyde Council's attainment challenge on 14 August as one of its keynote speakers. I thank the cabinet secretary for that reply, and as a result of the Tory cuts to working tax credits, 22,000 children between three and 15 years old in Scotland will lose their entitlement to free school meals. Can the cabinet secretary tell me how Inverclyde Council will be expected to deal with those Tory cuts and whether there is anything that can be done to mitigate the effects of the attack on the least well-off in Inverclyde and Scotland, who stand to lose their entitlement to free school meals and childcare? The Scottish Government will always act to protect the rights of disadvantaged children and the entitlement to free school meals and early learning and childcare, whether that is in Inverclyde or across Scotland. Mr McMillan highlights the impact of changes to working tax credits and child tax credits made in the UK summer budget and the potential impact of those nationally 22,000 pupils losing their entitlement to free school meals and 2,000 two-year-olds losing their entitlement to early learning and childcare. Consecretly, Presiding Officer, two weeks ago I pledged to safeguard the entitlements of thousands of children from lower-income households by changing the regulations in Scotland to ensure that they remain eligible for free school meals and early learning and childcare, and as a Government, we remain committed to tackling child poverty head on despite the challenges from the UK Government. Question 7, Graeme Dey. To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it is aware of that energy drink consumption by pupils during the school day may impact on classroom behaviour. The nutritional requirements for food and drink in school Scotland regulations 2008 contain standards that all drinks provided in schools must meet. Those regulations do not allow any energy drinks to be made available at any time of the school day. We will continue to monitor all evidence on energy drinks and carefully consider recommendations made in relation to their sale to children and young people. I hear from secondary school teachers that the classroom environment that they encounter post-launch time across S2 to S4 can be a disrupted one with pupils easily distracted. They believe that, due to the purchase and consumption of these products from off-the-school campus and down south to teaching union, NASU, WT and drug and alcohol charity Swanswell, they have teamed up to look into the situation regarding energy drink consumption by pupils. Can I ask the minister what steps might be taken to determine the scale of the problem here in Scotland? The member raises a very serious point, but the exemption that I mentioned applies to food and drink, including energy drinks, to be brought onto the school by a pupil, for example, as part of a pat lunch or purchased at a shop outside the school gates. However, the school health promotion and nutritional Scotland act requires education authorities to make health promotion a central purpose of schooling and allowing children to consume unhealthy products, such as energy drinks, on school premises that would run contrary to that message. For that reason, schools are encouraged to consider this when setting their own policies about what products they allow their pupils to bring into the school. I am however willing to meet with Mr Day and to discuss some of the issues that he has raised if he wishes. North Lancer Council has banned fast food vans from within 250 metres of schools in an effort to improve the health and wellbeing of their pupils, which has already been taken by Glasgow and East Ayrshire Council. Can I ask the minister if the Scottish Government supports the council's efforts to improve the health of pupils through bands and snack bands? What assistance can the Government give the council on fighting the legal challenge to the ban? Does the minister feel that the education bill would be an appropriate place to table an amendment to give local authorities the additional powers in this area that may be needed as a result of the legal challenge? Notwithstanding the legal issues that the member raises, I would not want to wish to comment on some of those if they are on-going. However, we would expect and hope that local authorities make best use of the current rules and regulations that are available to them through some of the provisions that he mentioned, but also through some of the legislative requirements that I mentioned in response to Graeme Dey to make best use to ensure that they are creating healthy environments around their schools and, of course, decisions around the environment that is surrounding schools rests solely with local authorities. However, I hope that that gives them some comfort that we want to help to promote healthy activities within schools and that the rules and regulations are there to support local authorities. 8. Colin Beattie To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with further and higher education institutions to ensure that students in receipt of employment and support allowance will not find their education disrupted when universal credit is rolled out. Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance The Scottish Government has long made clear that we have great concerns about the implementation of universal credit. We welcome the limited powers over universal credit proposed in the Scotland Bill and are working to implement those as soon as possible, but that will not be enough to protect students from all aspects of universal credit or indeed the UK Government's welfare reforms. However, we are working closely with the Scottish Funding Council, Colleges Scotland and Child Poverty Action Group to monitor and assess the impact for students. 8. Colin Beattie I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. Many of the students from deprived areas in my constituency of Midlothian North and Musselborough benefit greatly from this allowance. Can the cabinet secretary outline how the allowance has contributed to the reduction of the attainment gap across Scotland? I am aware that a part-time student can claim contributory ESA if they have contributions or income-related ESA or if they are on a low income without having to also be receiving DLA or PIP. Therefore, the allowance has supported disadvantaged students to access educational opportunities and has helped to address inequalities in educational outcomes. As I have made clear, the Scottish Government continues to have concerns about the implementation of universal credit. If the member wishes to write to me to outline those matters in greater detail, I would be more than happy to ensure that those are fed into any discussions that the Government is having with the UK Government on employment and support allowance. To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is putting in place to improve early years education. We have invested £329 million over two years to increase entitlement to 600 hours of early learning and childcare for all three and four-year-olds and to 27 per cent of two-year-olds who will benefit the most. Around 20,000 two-year-olds from the poorest families will be eligible over the course of the year. We also intend to almost double-funded provision to 1,140 hours per year by the end of the next Parliament. The minister will be aware that the welfare changes by the UK Government means that almost two thousand two-year-olds would lose their entitlement to early years education. Can I ask the minister what precautions and protections the Government is putting in place to protect children and do they have the additional resources to do so? The member makes a good point. I think that she shows 2,000 reasons why that change was wrong. As the cabinet secretary said in her answer to Stuart McMillan, she changed the regulations in Scotland to ensure that those two-year-olds remain eligible for free school meals and early learning in childcare. We will always put our children and young people first in our efforts to create the fairer country that we seek. That underpins our commitment to getting it right for every child and the legislative changes that we made through the Children and Young People Act. We will always want to ensure that all children get the best start in life and the start and the chance to flourish. We will continue to do that despite what seems to be the efforts and the challenges that the UK Government seems to present to us in our efforts to pursue that. Many thanks. I supplementary from Cara Hilton. Given that children living in poverty are twice as likely to experience early learning difficulties between the ages of three and five, what specific measures will the minister be taking to address the attainment gap that develops before children start school? Will the minister consider making early literacy a focus of inspections? We have got a huge commitment to ensuring that the attainment gap is narrowed, and that has been evidenced through the recent Read, Write, Count campaign, which builds on the great success that our play-talk read campaign promotes efforts and messages that children parents should play-talk read with their little ones from day one because we know that that benefits those literacy challenges. I would point the member to the recently published GUS information, which shows that we are making some good progress in terms of literacy, and also will ensure that she can contribute to our thinking around how we make sure that we can continue to close that gap and focus on early years as the best place to start that. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the reported teacher shortage in the north-east. Cabinet Secretary, Angela Constance. We have increased student teacher intake targets in each of the last four years, committed £51 million to Safeguard teaching posts and launched a teacher recruitment campaign. I welcomed the invitation to attend the teacher recruitment summit in Aberdeen last week. We discussed the positive work that the Scottish Government and local authorities are doing and explored the scope to build on that work. I have written to the seven local authorities concerned, setting out proposals for further action, including extending the provision of part-time distance learning, initial teacher education and incorporating regional workforce intelligence into the national workforce planning process on a more structured basis. Does the minister agree that it is important to local communities that young people in particular who may have had to leave the area to study elsewhere can find employment in their own local area? In this context, what is the Scottish Government doing to encourage routes into teaching for people, especially the young and newly trained who live in or are attached to the north-east? I agree entirely with that sentiment. The Government is committed to working with local authorities and universities to develop routes into teaching that enable people to remain in their local area. That is why we have brought the University of Highlands and Islands on stream as an initial teacher education provider. That is why we have increased the number of student places for initial teacher education across Scotland, but especially at the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and the west of Scotland. Aberdeenshire is one of the local authorities to have benefited from the funding that the Government provided to the University of Aberdeen to enable it to develop the part-time distance learning PGE courses to enable partner local authorities to develop existing staff as primary teachers on a part-time basis while continuing in their employment. It was clear from the teacher summit last week that the innovation has been widely welcomed by the local authorities. I have asked my officials to speak to partners to explore how the delight programme could be extended to the secondary sector. Many qualified and experienced primary and secondary school teachers are available and ready to work, particularly in Murray next door to the northeast, but due to having an English qualification they are not recognised by the GTC. Can a solution be found to this as soon as possible so that children in Murray are not sent home again this winter due to teacher shortages? It is important to recognise that it is crucial that teachers in Scottish schools have qualifications to teach, and I am sure that Mrs Scanlon would agree with that very important point. However, it is also worth recognising that the GTCs, who are at the summit in Aberdeen, already register teachers from south of the border and do so in large numbers. Mrs Scanlon might also be interested to note that the GTCs have recently just finished a consultation on what I believe would be two very important proposals that would introduce more flexibility into the system that would be helpful across Scotland, particularly to Murray and the northeast. One proposal is about equivalency testing and the other proposal is about registration. That is provisional, provisional registration on certain conditions being met within a timescale. I hope that she will agree with me that that shows a great willing on the part of the GTCs to maintain standards always but where possible to show flexibility. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the impact of the agreement to maintain teacher numbers. The Scottish Government has committed £51 million to safeguard teaching posts, and we have been in regular discussions with local authorities to support them to meet their commitment to maintain teacher numbers and pupil teacher ratios at 2014 levels. The Education and Skills Committee recently heard concerns from representatives of local authorities across Scotland that the Scottish Government's decision to set strict teacher limits for each individual council has removed the flexibility that they need to match demand for teachers with supply. It was also suggested that in order to meet the Government's demands, imposed via the threat of a £50 million cut to their budgets, councils are having to lay off support staff. Can the cabinet secretary therefore confirm how many janitors, cleaners, kitchen and other administrators from support staff have lost their jobs since the deal was put in place? What estimates have been made about the further job losses over coming years? Does she believe that the loss of those posts is in keeping with the Government's stated commitment to meeting the needs of the lower paid? I would have hoped that Mr MacArthur would have agreed with me that going the extra mile to maintain teacher numbers at the 2014 level was a very important and crucial step to take, particularly as we embark on our journey where we are all across the chamber and across every local authority in Scotland increasing our resolve to close the attainment gap. We know that good quality professional graduate teacher workforce is crucial to that. It is important to stress to Mr MacArthur that every local authority entered into this agreement with the Government, but it is no secret that the Government would indeed have preferred a national agreement, as opposed to having 32 separate agreements. In the weeks and months ahead, we will certainly continue to have a dialogue with local authorities and partners and COSLA to see whether we can make progress on that area. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the particular challenges of recruiting and maintaining teachers in rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway. What is the Scottish Government doing to help the council to maintain its teacher numbers? Yes, Ms McAlpine raises a point in the same way that there have been recruitment and retention issues in the north-east of Scotland. Similarly, there have been challenges in Dumfries and Galloway. The Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities, the university and, as it indicated in an earlier answer, with the GTCS, as well as other professional associations, to explore how we develop innovative solutions to the challenges in and around the recruitment of teachers in particular parts of the country. As a Government, we have supported a partnership between Dumfries and Galloway Council and the University of West of Scotland to offer a route into teaching for existing local authority employees. Ten students started on that programme and pleased to say last month that we will be discussing the potential to build on this model with both the local authority and the university. On the subject of century mandated targets, can I ask what plans the Scottish Government has to increase the extent to which local authorities are held to account on the outcomes that are opposed to the inputs for the public? If I caught Mr Buchanan's question right, I think that he is touching on an important relationship of how we need balance in our education system and the debates around how much resources and teacher numbers go into the system are very important. The Government's position on teacher numbers has been well rehearsed here this afternoon. The point that he is making is that, at the end of the day, it is about outcomes for our children. As a Government, we are determined to be led and informed by the evidence about what works to improve educational outcomes for all our children. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish Funding Council and what issues were discussed. I met with the chair and chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council on 24 September. We discussed matters of importance to further and higher education. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. The cabinet secretary will be aware that recently the Scottish Funding Council rejected a bid from the University of West of Scotland to have financial assistance to rebuild its Lanarkshire campus in Hamilton. She may not be aware, though, if she is aware that the local chamber of commerce recently estimated that the existence of that campus in Hamilton contributes an estimated £70 million to the local economy. Given that UWS now is considering options that may involve relocating away from the current Hamilton base, will she argue with the cabinet secretary for finance to find some money from the underspend that has recently been exposed to invest in that much-needed campus on the current site in Hamilton to ensure that the adverse economic impact of the decision by the Scottish Funding Council can be reversed and that the UWS can start to go ahead with its very exciting and competitive project on the Hamilton campus site? I understand the value of having a university campus in a town. I understand why any community would want to retain a university campus in a town. I know that Mr McLean, such as other constituency members such as Christina McKelvey, has taken a close interest in the redevelopment of the University of West of Scotland Hamilton campus. I apologise that my geography of Lanarkshire is not quite as smart as it should be, Mr McMahon, but it is clear that there is a cross-party interest in the chamber with regard to the University of West of Scotland and proposals in and around where the campus should be located. UWS is looking at options at appraisal. I know that, at a local level, councillors across the political divide appear to be united on that matter as well. What I would say is that the Scottish Funding Council, although it was unable to deploy £25 million to match fund proposals at this point in time, has indicated that it is supportive of the project and that the redevelopment of the UWS Hamilton campus will feature as one of the highest priorities when it publishes and develops its infrastructure investment plan. To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the role that families can play in their children's learning and what it is doing to increase the quality of early learning and childcare services. We know that parents are the biggest influence on the future outcomes of our children, and that supporting them is essential. That is why we are investing £2.7 million in bookbug and play-talk redactivities this year for preschool children and why we launched Read-Write Count in August. That programme aims to improve literacy and numeracy skills for children in primaries 1 to 3. Save the Children recently submitted the evidence to the education committee on the delivery of the families and schools together. The fast programme focusing on parents disadvantaged by poverty to positively engage in their children's learning. What can the Scottish Government do to ensure that the fast programme continues to prosper? Would it consider producing national standards on parental engagement support? I thank the member for raising this. I have seen first-hand the fast programme in action in Western Bartonshire and was impressed by what I saw because it built on parents' assets and provided a really positive experience for both children and their families. I understand that that has helped to improve outcomes for children. We will consider the evidence from the fast evaluation. We will continue to work with Save the Children to consider the role that fast and other similar parental engagement methods can play in our attainment programme. With respect to the proposal for national standards, the Government works with the national parent involvement stakeholder group in order to monitor and develop national policy on parent engagement. The group is currently developing its work plan for 2016 onwards. We will invite Save the Children to a future meeting of the group in order to consider their full range of ways to increase the quality, breadth and depth of parent engagement and family learning. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is in the closure of rural schools and nurseries. Rural schools and nurseries are often highly valued by their community. It is important that any proposal to close one is given full consideration and complies with the requirements of the Schools Consultations Scotland Act 2010, which was strengthened in 2014. The Cubs will know that Tylan Council has mothballed edinbein and strewn nurseries and is appealing in favour of closure of knock-break edinbein and strewn primaries on the Isle of Skye. They are doing that to try to block reopening of the nurseries or using that as an excuse. Does the cabinet secretary agree that this arrogant behaviour by Tylan Council all becomes a supposed democratic organisation that should deal with the case of the nurseries on their own merits? Of course, I agree that nurseries are essential to communities and indeed to our children in terms of their well-being and education. I am aware of this case and the sensitivities associated with it. However, as it is currently before the courts, you will appreciate it. I am limited in what I can say. Myself or Dr Allan would be more than happy to meet with Mr Thompson to discuss the issue further once the legal process has concluded. However, until the matter is resolved, the council may not implement its proposals either wholly or partly. In the meantime, we would expect the council to meet its statutory obligations relating to the provision of early learning and childcare. Briefly, please, John Scott. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the proposed closure of the nurseries at the Ayrshire College. My constituents and I are particularly concerned about the proposed closure at Ayrshire College. Does the cabinet secretary share my concerns about that and does she agree with me that further effort should be made to make this nursery viable, keep it available to student staff and members of the public if need be? Is there anything that she can do to help and also protect the jobs of the nine members of staff? Mr Scott, I appreciate that this very topic came up yesterday at Topical Questions. Along with other local members, I share the disappointment in that decision. Ayrshire College advises that the nursery is currently economically unriable and is costing £400,000 to maintain, and that, nonetheless, there are 37 children that currently use that. It also advises that the nine members of staff from the covenant campus will be offered redeployment. I am more than happy to meet with the member and, indeed, any other local member to discuss their concerns on this matter. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Unison Scotland Survey, claiming that staff morale at colleges is at rock bottom with 79 per cent of respondents saying that staff felt negative or extremely negative. Cabinet secretary, much of the progress that has been made in recent years in Scotland's colleges has only been possible because of the commitment and professionalism of staff, and I want to make sure that we build upon that while making sure that staff are well-wed and supported. As the First Minister made clear last week, it is important to fully understand why some staff say that they are dissatisfied, and I intend to discuss those findings with Unison Scotland at our next meeting. Thank you very much. It is interesting that the cabinet secretary calls it progress, because we know that 65 per cent of staff feel that services have got worse. In the last two years, part-time colleges and places have been slashed. There are 80,000 fewer female students compared with a few years ago. Will the minister now finally concede that, one, this is not progress, two, the Government has got it badly wrong and the agenda of college mergers and funding cuts. This is bad for staff and it is extremely bad for access to flexible further education, particularly for female students. Will the cabinet secretary concede that it is now time to restore the college support and funding? Although I am conscious that there were 266 members of support staff across the sector that responded to the survey, although that is a low proportion of staff, I am keen to discuss the findings of the survey when I next meet with Unison Scotland. It is nonetheless important to recognise that the college reform programme is a good example of public sector reform, because we are doing more for learners in the context of a very challenging financial times. We now have more learners studying full-time recognised courses that lead to employment and the focus on skills for work and the local economy are absolutely the right priorities. With regard to the point that he raises with respect to women learners, women form the majority of college students. Over 52 per cent in 2013-12 women are not underrepresented in the college sector. In terms of the numbers of under 25 studying full-time recognised courses and in terms of over 25 studying full-time recognised courses, the trajectory is upward, but we still continue to provide a range of provision, including part-time provision, as we recognise that some people continue to need that more flexible approach to learning. Given that pay scales are of concern to staff, could the cabinet secretary outline what progress the college sector has made on paying the living wage? I understand from Colleges Scotland that all colleges have made a commitment to pay the living wage. I warmly welcome that undertaking and look forward to further colleges becoming living wage accredited employers in the future. We now turn to the next item of business, which is a debate on motion number 14432 in the name of Kenneth Gibson on Scotland's fiscal framework. Could I invite members who would like to be considered to