Parliamentary questions
Margaret Smith
931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any institutions that offer teacher training courses have made representations to it about the impact of the 4% reduction in the intake targets for teacher training courses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. …
Answer · Keith Brown: We have on-going discussions with the Deans of Education.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any institutions that offer teacher training courses have made representations to it regarding the available number of places on teacher training courses and, if so, (a) which institutions, (b) when these representations were made and (c) what the outcomes were.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have on-going discussions with the Deans of Education.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to hold with the institutions that will be affected by the 4% reduction in the intake targets for teacher training courses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. 16897) about the impact that this w…
Answer · Keith Brown: A meeting with the Deans of Education was held on 2 April 2009 to discuss reductions in intakes. The matter was also discussed at a meeting of the Scottish Teacher Education Committee on 24 April 2009. The position was formalised in correspondence, officials …
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding teacher numbers with the institutions that will be affected by the 4% reduction in the intake targets for teacher training courses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. 16897).
Answer · Keith Brown: A meeting with the Deans of Education was held on 2 April 2009 to discuss reductions in intakes. This matter was also discussed at a meeting of the Scottish Teacher Education Committee on 24 April 2009.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the institutions that offer teacher training courses were informed of the impact of the 4% reduction in the intake targets for teacher training courses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. 16897).
Answer · Keith Brown: Deans of Education were informed at a meeting on 2 April 2009 of the intention to reduce the original target intakes for postgraduate teacher training courses for the coming academic year. This was confirmed by letter on 3 April 2009. Officials wrote to the S…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the 4% reduction in the intake targets for teacher training courses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. 16897) will meet the SNP’s 2007 manifesto commitment to increase teacher numbers.
Answer · Keith Brown: The local government finance settlement and the concordat provided resources to maintain teacher numbers. Intakes to postgraduate teacher training courses have been adjusted this year to better balance the supply of, and demand for, teachers.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on teacher numbers of the 4% reduction in the intake targets for teacher training courses announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. 16897).
Answer · Keith Brown: The proposed reductions in teacher intake will ensure that we have an appropriate balance between the supply and demand of teachers.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains its position that increasing the number of teachers and cutting class sizes is key to improving discipline in schools.
Answer · Keith Brown: There is no single reason or solution for negative behaviour in schools and we need to continually develop and innovate to make sure children and young people are included and engaged in Curriculum for Excellence. The Scottish Government remains committed to …
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation 12 in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that the Scottish Government should commission research into what might persuade teachers to relocate to teach in other parts of Scotland where recruitment patterns suggest teacher employment…
Answer · Keith Brown: This research is being taken forward within the Scottish Government and the results are expected in August 2009.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation 11 in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group, what action it is taking to ensure that probationers' understanding of the system is better managed in order to ensure that there is no unrealistic expectation of immediate local permanent e…
Answer · Keith Brown: Officials from the Scottish Government and the General Teaching Council for Scotland visit all teacher education universities prior to students applying to join the teacher induction scheme to outline the key features of the scheme. The presentation delivered…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation 10 in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group, what action it is taking to ensure that information provided to students about the teacher induction scheme includes relevant data about probationer employment patterns by local authorities.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are working with stakeholders to agree how the most relevant and unambiguous data can be collated and presented, with a view to having this available for students applying in autumn 2009 to join the 2010-11 teacher induction scheme.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation nine in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group, what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities and university faculties of education liaise more closely with a view to identifying appropriate opportunities to increase the num…
Answer · Keith Brown: This recommendation was drawn to the attention of local authorities and universities in a letter from the Scottish Government on 12 December 2008. While Scottish Government officials stand ready to assist and contribute to discussions, this is fundamentally a…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation eight in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that the preference waiver payment level be raised to £8,000 for secondary school probationers, whether the Scottish Government has done this and, if not, whether it plans to do so and, if…
Answer · Keith Brown: The preference waiver payment level for secondary school probationers has been increased to £8,000 from August 2009.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation seven in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that the Teacher Workforce Planning Group revisit specifically modelling teacher demand at secondary subject level, whether the Scottish Government has instructed the Teacher Workforce Pla…
Answer · Keith Brown: Specific subject modelling in secondary subjects formed part of the 2009 teacher workforce planning exercise and will continue in subsequent years.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation six in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that there should be a review of means of early release including teacher winding down arrangements, whether the Scottish Government has begun such a review and, if not, whether it plans to …
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has been exploring options for early release with COSLA and the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. These discussions have included consideration as to how local authorities might make better use of the existing flexibilities contained in…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation five in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that local authorities consider making more use of permanent supply pools to ensure that stable employment opportunities are availab…
Answer · Keith Brown: The use of permanent supply pools of teachers is a matter for local authorities in light of local circumstances. Officials wrote to Local authorities on 12 December 2008.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation four in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that local authority employers should wherever possible use post-probation teachers to fill supply vacancies, what action it is taking to ensure this.
Answer · Keith Brown: Recommendation four <em>of the Teacher Employment Working Group</em> that local authority employers should wherever possible use post-probation teachers to fill supply vacancies is a matter for local authorities as employers.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation three in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that research should be commissioned by the Scottish Government to establish whether the changing economic climate is altering the retirement intentions of teachers, whether it has commiss…
Answer · Keith Brown: Officials wrote to local authorities on 12 December 2008. This research is being taken forward within the Scottish Government.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation two in the October 2009 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group what action it has taken to consider how to gather more reliable information about the employment position of post-probation teachers on a recurring annual basis and when its conclusions on …
Answer · Keith Brown: We are discussing this issue with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation two in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group, whether it has invited the General Teaching Council for Scotland to conduct a longitudinal study on a cohort of probationers to obtain a better understanding of employment patterns and beha…
Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. Officials wrote to the General Teaching Council for Scotland on 12 December 2008 and we are in discussion on the nature of the study and its duration.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation two in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that the General Teaching Council for Scotland should conduct a longitudinal study on a cohort of probationers to obtain a better understanding of employment patterns and behaviours for an e…
Answer · Keith Brown: Officials wrote to the General Teaching Council on 12 December 2008 concerning the recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group. Under the terms of the Teacher Employment Working Group recommendations the conduct of a longitudinal study on a cohort…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recommendation one in the October 2008 Report of the Teacher Employment Working Group that there needs to be greater reconciliation between local workforce decision making and the national workforce planning process, whether the Scottish Government has begun to work with COSL…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group. Officials wrote to Local authorities concerning the recommendations on 12 December 2008. In relation to recommendation one a seminar was held on 18 May 2009 w…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in which institutions the 4% reduction in intake targets for teacher training places as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 30 April 2009 (Official Report c. 16897) will be made.
Answer · Keith Brown: The proposed reduction of the original increased targets in intakes for this coming academic year only applies to one year postgraduate courses. The institutions affected are the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and the Univer…
11 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the City of Edinburgh Council in tackling the city’s acute housing issues.
Answer · Alex Neil : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scott…
19 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to maintain the autonomy of Scottish higher and further education institutions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The framework for maintaining the autonomy of Scottish higher and further education institutions and ensuring academic freedom is set out in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005. Most recently, the Scottish Government confirmed its respect for…
19 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be to police forces of cleaning homes where a homicide has occurred, in the absence of any other provision.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Any costs associated with cleaning and decontamination following a homicide that fall to the police will be absorbed within existing police budgets. There is no estimate of the costs involved as these will vary depending on the location and on the extent of t…
19 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals and families in privately owned or privately rented accommodation will be assisted in meeting cleaning costs in the event that a homicide has occurred in their homes and their insurance does not cover this.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As announced on 8 February 2009, the police will meet the costs of decontamination and cleaning after a homicide when these costs cannot be met by a landlord or by an insurer.</p>
19 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals or families in privately owned or privately rented accommodation who have no insurance will be assisted in meeting cleaning costs in the event that a homicide has occurred in their homes.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As announced on 8 February 2009, the police will meet the costs of decontamination and cleaning after a homicide when these costs cannot be met by a landlord or by an insurer.</p>
19 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that insurance companies assist clients in privately owned or privately rented accommodation with the costs of cleaning their homes in the event that a homicide has occurred.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The terms of insurance policies are matters between individuals and insurance companies. Insurance companies are regulated by the Financial Services Authority, and if a customer is dissatisfied with the way an insurer deals with their claim they can refer the…
19 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide assistance to small housing associations that have expressed concerns over the cost of cleaning homes where a homicide has occurred.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In these circumstances the rents paid by tenants to housing associations will normally cover such costs.</p>