
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Loans for Tuition Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 and shall come into force on 1st August 2007.
2 
After regulation 5 (applications for loans) of the Education (Student Loans for Tuition Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, insert–“
5A 

(1) The Scottish Ministers may make it a condition of eligibility for a loan that the student must provide them with that student’s United Kingdom national insurance number.
(2) Where the Scottish Ministers have imposed a condition under paragraph (1), they must not make any payment of the loan to the student before they are satisfied that the student has complied with that condition.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Scottish Ministers may make a payment of loan to a student if they are satisfied that owing to exceptional circumstances it would be appropriate to make such a payment without the student having complied with the condition imposed under paragraph (1).”.
3 
In regulation 8 (information) of the Education (Student Loans for Tuition Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, after paragraph (3) insert–“
(4) The Scottish Ministers may at any time require an applicant or eligible student to enter into an agreement to repay a loan by a particular method.
(5) The Scottish Ministers may at any time request from an applicant or eligible student sight of their valid national identity card, their valid passport issued by the state of which they are a national or their birth certificate.
(6) The Scottish Ministers may at any time verify with the Department for Work and Pensions the United Kingdom national insurance number that an applicant or eligible student has provided or may check with the Department for Work and Pensions whether that applicant or eligible student has such a number with a view to obtaining it if that applicant or eligible student does.
(7) Where the Scottish Ministers have requested information or documents under this regulation, they may withhold any payment of a loan until the applicant or eligible student provides what has been requested or provides a satisfactory explanation for not complying with the request.
(8) Where the Scottish Ministers have requested an agreement as to the method of repayment under this regulation, they may withhold any payment of a loan until the applicant or eligible student provides what has been requested.”.
NICOL STEPHEN
A member of the Scottish Executive
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
6th March 2007