Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 March 2016
23 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Over-25s (Training)
Fair Work, Skills and Training
The minister will be aware that the cutting of 152,000 college places by the Scottish Government has disproportionately affected older learners. Audit Scotland’s report “Scotland’s colleges 2015” shows that there are 41 per cent fewer students over 25 in our colleges than there were in 2008-09. Given that older learners are often the furthest removed from the labour market and other training opportunities, will the minister outline the steps that the Scottish Government has taken to help people over 25 to access training in Scotland?
In the same item of business
5. Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government what training opportunities it offers people over the age of 25. (S4O-05690)
The Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
We view Scotland’s people as our greatest asset. The Government therefore recognises that responding to the skills and training needs of individuals enables ...
Cameron Buchanan
Con
The minister will be aware that the cutting of 152,000 college places by the Scottish Government has disproportionately affected older learners. Audit Scotla...
Annabelle Ewing
SNP
On colleges, we have exceeded our undertaking to maintain full-time-equivalent places, and there are more than 119,000 FTE places. We make no bones about foc...