Parliamentary questions
Fiona Hyslop
940 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any problems with the recruitment of teaching staff to meet class reduction and McCrone-related non-contact time targets.
Answer · Robert Brown: The recruitment of teachersis a matter for local authorities.</p><p>Overall sufficient teachershave been trained to meet the reduction in class contact time to 22.5 hours inAugust 2006. There are no interim targets for the delivery of the commitment toreduce …
23 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland are not currently employed in Scottish schools.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally.</p><p>We do know that as at 1April 2006, there were 79,162 people on the General Teaching Council forScotland’s register, of whom 67,364 had their registration fee deducted fromsalary. However, having fees deducted from …
23 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of teachers have obtained permanent posts in the year after completing probation in each of the last three years.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18887 on 28 September 2005. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
9 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement procedures under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 and investigate West Lothian Council’s practice of charging for assistance with the preparation of food for elderly residents in West Lothian.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A letter issued to localauthorities last month which set out the guiding principles that we expect localauthorities to follow when deciding what services should be provided for free. Thecurrent evaluation of the free personal care policy is looking at differe…
4 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23161 by Tavish Scott on 23 March 2006, whether it will provide details of Transport Scotland's operational responsibilities for rail.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Information relating to TransportScotland’s operational responsibility for rail is contained within Transport Scotland’s CorporatePlan, which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/22165105/51058">http://www.scotland.go…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue new guidance stating that there should be no nuts or nut products in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Guidance for local educationauthorities and schools on the topic of food allergies, including nuts and nut products,is set out in <i>Hungry for Success</i>, the final report of the Expert Panel onSchool Meals (November 2004). The Scottish Executive will updat…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils in schools are known to have a nut allergy, shown as a percentage of average class size for (a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend section 73 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 to introduce a new offence of refusing to produce a Blue Badge when requested to do so by police, traffic wardens or local authority parking attendants in residential parking bays.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Abuse of the Blue Badge Schemeis a serious offence. It deprives disabled people of the freedom and independenceoften taken for granted by able-bodied members of society.</p><p>It is already classified as anoffence to fail to produce a Blue Badge when requeste…
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to Lothian and Borders Police to implement its Youth Strategy Action Plan 2005-08.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer to the member to the answer to question S2W-24651 on 13 April 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to Lothian and Borders Police to provide additional weekend policing in the communities of Armadale, Blackridge and Westfield.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Lothian and Borders JointPolice Board has set a budget of over £185 million for Lothian and Borders Policein 2006-07. It is a matter for the Chief Constable to determine how these resourcesare used to meet local needs and pressures.</p>
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considers it appropriate that the Lothian and Borders Police Call Grading Protocol, which categorises call to the police for the purpose of the allocation a response time band, categorises calls, including 999 calls, about silent abusive calls where the caller is believed to…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Lothian and Borders PoliceCall Grading Protocol makes it clear that where it appears that there is a seriousand immediate threat to life or personal safety resulting from an on-going incident,including from partners or ex-partners, this will result in the…
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any additional financial implications for local authority budgets following the recommendations of NHS Lothian’s External Reference Group for Older People’s Services’ Final Report.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities are given anannual core local government finance settlement. It is for each local authorityto determine its priorities to meet the needs of its resident population.</p><p>I refer the member to theanswers to questions S2W-24515, 24518 and 245…
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact NHS Lothian’s External Reference Group for Older People’s Services’ Final Report will have on local authorities across Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities across Scotlandmust set their own priorities. In doing so, they should take account ofexisting good practice, evidence based research and formal guidance and, along withtheir health colleagues, consider whether their services for older peopl…
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funds will be made available to all NHS boards to implement in full the recommendations of NHS Lothian’s External Reference Group for Older People’s Services’ Final Report.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS boards are given anannual allocation of funds. It is for each NHS board to meet the health careneeds of its resident population from within the level of funding available.Health boards should consider whether their services for older people couldbenefit f…
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funds will be made available to NHS Lothian to implement in full the recommendations of its External Reference Group for Older People’s Services’ Final Report.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS boards are given anannual allocation of funds. It is for each NHS board to meet the health careneeds of its residents form the level of funding available, taking account ofnational and local priorities.</p>
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS Lothian will implement all 40 recommendations of its External Reference Group for Older People’s Services’ Final Report.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for NHS Lothian.</p>
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of NHS Lothian’s External Reference Group for Older People’s Services’ Final Report in March 2006, whether the Executive has any plans to implement the recommendations of the report across Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The report was commissionedby NHS Lothian and the External Reference Group reported to the board. It isnot for the Scottish Executive to implement but it has important implicationsfor the care of older people across Scotland, and I will be drawing it to the a…
17 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what HM Treasury discount rate has been applied to student loans subsidies in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The HM Treasury discount rateused to calculate the resource cost of student loans in the Scottish Executive accountswas six per cent prior to the 2003-04 financial year; 3.5 per cent in 2003-04 and2004-05, and 2.2 per cent from the 2005-06 financial year onwa…
17 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that money allocated for providing support staff in schools has been used for that purpose.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is currentlyinvesting overall approximately £93 million per year in the employment of additionalsupport staff in schools through the core local government finance settlement. Thiscomprises of £36 million from 2002 for the classroom assi…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the principle of students studying abroad as part of their degree course.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24259 on 23 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the number of Scots students studying abroad as part of their degree course.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are working with the UKSocrates Council to explore ways of increasing the number of students who studyabroad as part of their degree course. This includes organising an event thisautumn for the Scottish higher education sector, to highlight the benefits fo…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to students studying abroad on programmes such as the Erasmus programme and how it will increase this support.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The support available forstudents studying abroad on programmes such as Erasmus mirrors the supportavailable for all other students attending abroad on a compulsory basis. Thisincludes tuition fees, student loans, young students’ bursaries and supplementarygr…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will fund the Leadership for Learning Initiative.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Leadership for Learning programmeis run by Learning and Teaching Scotland. It began in January 2004 as a developmentof the ICT Masterclass programme aimed specifically at head teachers and now hasover 700 participants. The programme is paid for out of the…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve leadership in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The recent Her Majesty’s Inspectorateof Education report, <i>Improving Scottish Education</i>, highlighted that leadershipis good or very good in over 80% of our schools. The Executive is determined tobuild on this successful performance to improve leadership…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to persuade young students and graduates into a teaching career.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Over the last year and a halfwe have significantly increased the level of our teacher recruitment activity. Thishas included targeting students and graduates. Our recent advertising and promotionalwork has been in addition to the work of our teacher recruitme…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of new entrants to the General Teaching Register has been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The information is set out inthe following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=179 valign=top> <p align=center>Year</p> </td> <td width=161 valign=top> <p align=center>Average Age (In Years)</p> </td> <…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need to extend the use of attendants on school transport.
Answer · Peter Peacock: It is for education authoritiesto decide whether, on what routes and how to provide such attendants. The ScottishExecutive’s school transport guidance makes clear the expectation that authoritieswill keep these matters under review.</p><p>I acknowledged to th…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the criteria for free school transport provision.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I have made clear to the EducationCommittee, in both written and oral evidence, my view that the statutory frameworkdoes not inhibit education authorities from adopting eligibility criteria that theyconsider appropriate to local circumstances.</p>
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the support available to drug or alcohol-dependent parents and their children to address their dependency and associated problems without removing the children from the family home.
Answer · Hugh Henry: We have steadily increasedinvestment across the range of treatments in the last five years: £33.6 millionwill be allocated to NHS boards for drug and alcohol treatment services in 2006-07.The Executive’s Sure Start programmewill provide £57 million in 2006-07…
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to increase the number of residential places available for the children of drug or alcohol-dependent parents.
Answer · Robert Brown: Through integratedchildren’s services planning, it is for local agencies to determine theservices needed in their local area to make sure children get the help theyneed when they need it.</p><p>It is, therefore, for localauthorities to ensure they have suffic…