Parliamentary questions
Irene McGugan
716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision of cycling activities and qualified cycle personnel currently exists in schools.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In September the Scottish Executive published <I>A Review of the Take-up of Cycle Training in Scotland</I>. This publication provides information on training activities in each local authority area. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Parliament's …
19 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what priority is given to cycling within its education policies.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Cycling has its place within the health education curriculum and may be discussed in other areas such as environmental studies. However, as with the rest of the curriculum, priority given to individual aspects is for each education authority to determine.<P>M…
8 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) whether there are any guidelines on (i) how many computers schoolrooms should be equipped with, (ii) the minimum network requirements of supporting such provision and (iii) best practice in respect of educational use of computers and (b) how many schools are not currently operating wi…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive does not issue guidelines on how computers should be deployed in schools or on the associated support arrangements. These are matters for local decision by schools and education authorities in the light of teaching and learning policies…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for rolling out the Scottish Schools Digital Network to all schools.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Proposals for a national schools' intranet, currently known as the Scottish Schools Digital Network (SSDN), will be discussed at a conference planned for December. Following the conference, it is hoped to begin the procurement process for the SSDN early in th…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools currently have broadband internet access.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not currently available. However, results of the latest School Survey of Information and Communication Technology, carried out in October 2000, were published in a Scottish Executive Statistical News Release on Wednesday 28 November 2001. …
5 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address any shortage in foster carers.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Around 3,000 (27%) children looked after by local authorities are in foster care. Our experience of central Government recruitment initiatives in 1999 and 2000 is that regular local recruitment drives work better in attracting potential foster carers. We are …
5 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts for social workers specialising in childcare were vacant in each local authority in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on social work vacancies was collected for the first time in the October 2000 staffing census. These figures are provided in the following table.<P>Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2000<P>Social Workers Specialising in Child…
5 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many social workers specialising in childcare have been employed by each local authority in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Figures for social workers specialising in childcare should not be considered in isolation, as many local authorities also have generic social workers who provide services to more than one client group, including children. Table 1 therefore shows the number o…
5 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many social work assistants have been employed by each local authority in each of the last five years, and what financial and other support is available for social work assistants to enable them to gain appropriate qualifications.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Figures on employment of social work assistants have only been collated in a consistent manner since 2000. In 2000, 799 whole time equivalent social work assistants were employed throughout Scotland.<P>£2.2 million specific grant funding is awarded each year …
5 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish full details of the income and expenditure of the Scottish Qualifications Authority for the last two years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is required to prepare accounts each year in accordance with section 16 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. SQA's accounts for 1999-2000 were laid in Parliament on 21 June 2001 (SE/2001/130) and its accounts for 2…
5 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18665 by Allan Wilson on 26 October 2001, what specific additional safety measures have been introduced through the British Boxing Board of Control following the Paul Ingles fight and how information on these measures will be disseminated.
Answer · Allan Wilson: As stated in my answer on 26 October, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) has jurisdiction over professional boxing in Great Britain. To obtain the requested information, I therefore suggest you contact either the BBBC direct or the two main promoters …
1 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the Education Task Force associated with National Qualifications and what the rationale is for the allocation of places to it.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The National Qualifications Task Group includes representatives from the schools sector, the further education sector, education authorities, Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.<P>Members are:<P>Colin MacLean, National Ex…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the statutory guidance for local authorities on educating children at home is not yet available and when it anticipates that the guidance will be published.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Statutory guidance on the circumstances in which parents may choose to educate their children at home is not yet available, because the issues that it requires to address are complex and have needed careful and detailed consideration. Draft guidance will, how…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage was of Higher passes by students in (a) further education colleges and (b) the secondary school sector, in each of the last three years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The number of passes as a percentage of the number of entries for each sector are set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=321><TR><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Year</FONT></TD>…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the presentation rate was for candidates sitting Higher examinations in (a) further education colleges and (b) the secondary school sector, in each of the last three years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The number of Higher entries for school and further education/other centres are set out in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=472><TR><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Year</FONT></TD><TD WIDTH="2…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school students enrolled at a further education college in each of the last three years in order to sit Higher examinations.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is not held centrally.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many further education colleges offer qualifications which are also available in the secondary school sector.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: All bar two of Scotland's 46 further education colleges offer qualifications which are also available in the secondary school sector.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism it has put in place to carry out the functions previously undertaken by the Higher Still Development Unit.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The work of the former Higher Still Development Unit is being continued by Learning and Teaching Scotland who have a key role in supporting secondary education. Support for National Qualifications continues to be provided through the Scottish Qualifications A…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review legislation on embarkation and disembarkation of pupils from school transport so that, for example, ha'ard indicators must be displayed by a bus while pupils are embarking or disembarking and following traffic may not overtake.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Policy and legislation on the lighting of vehicles and on road traffic offences are the responsibility of the UK Parliament.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage local authorities to make greater use of American-style buses where such buses are found to have positive safety advantages over other types of school transport.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19474.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the effectiveness of the use of American-style school buses to transport children to school.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: At present there are no American-style buses in operation in Scotland. However, First Group have invited Scottish local authorities to participate in a pilot to evaluate the success of American-style buses. It is, however, for each authority to decide whether…
26 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on any implications for any future bids to host international sporting events in Scotland in the light of the circumstances surrounding the recent bid by Her Majesty's Government to host the World Athletics C…
Answer · Allan Wilson: No such representations have been made.
26 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reassurances it has sought from international sporting bodies that any bids to host international sporting events in Scotland in the future will not be influenced by the circumstances surrounding the recent bid by Her Majesty's Government to host the World Athletics Championships in…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive made no such approaches to international sporting bodies.
26 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reassurances it has sought from UEFA and other international sporting bodies that any bid by the Scottish Football Association to host the European Football Championship in 2008 will not be influenced by the circumstances surrounding the recent bid by Her Majesty's Government to hos…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has not been in discussion with UEFA or any other international sporting body about the World Athletics Championships. I am aware, however, that the Scottish Football Association, as the body responsible for any bid which may be made fo…
22 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16582 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 July 2001, when comprehensive information will be provided to voluntary sector organisations to assist them in meeting their obligations under Part V of the Police Act 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: An information brochure on the new disclosure system is in the final stages of preparation and should be generally available within the next few weeks. In addition to this, the Scottish Criminal Record Office is setting up a series of seminars at various loca…
22 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the central registered body to be established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 will be operational.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Volunteer Development Scotland has agreed to act as the central registered body from January 2002 to assist the voluntary sector with Part V prior to the new certificates becoming available from April 2002. VDS is currently advertising to fill key posts withi…
22 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be to local authorities of paying for criminal record checks for staff and volunteers when the new arrangements begin next year and whether it will make any assistance available to help meet these costs.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The relevant legislation makes the individual applicant or job seeker responsible for the payment of the appropriate fee. Prospective employers may reimburse the applicant but that would be entirely a matter for them to decide. <P>We are making available £1 m…
22 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment that implementation of any changes to teachers' pay scales, as they apply to probationary and recently qualified staff, will be delayed so as not to affect the current intake of students and any applying this year for the 2002 intake.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The proposal to have all probationer teachers paid on the probationer point for the period of their training year has come from a working group of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), so this is not solely a decision for the Scottish Execut…
19 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18542 by Mr Jack McConnell on 9 October 2001, what plans it has to offer guidance to local authorities on rural school closures in view of the decision made by Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has subsequently written to my Department advising of its decision to abandon its work on the code of practice on school closures, and proposing a review of all legislation relating to school closures. I will give this…
19 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether introduction of a uniform salary for all probationers will encourage mature students into the teaching profession.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I believe that students and those considering teaching as a career recognise the very significant improvements in pay, conditions and opportunities adhered through the agreement <I>A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century</I>, and will see the long-term ben…