Parliamentary questions

Margaret Smith

931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Scottish, (b) UK, (c) EU and (d) non-EU students graduated from Scottish universities in each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Russell: The following table shows the number of qualifiers from Scottish higher education institutions by domicile (pre-study location) in each academic year from 2003-04 to 2007-08. Data from academic year 2008-09 will be available from 29 September 2010. <…

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate student support in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Answer · Michael Russell: Tables 1 and 2 show total student support paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to undergraduate and postgraduate students for the five latest academic years. This has also been split into fee payments, grants/bursaries and loans. Information …

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in higher education teaching funds in (a) colleges and (b) universities in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Answer · Michael Russell: Decisions on the allocation of resources to colleges, including the amount distributed as teaching funding, are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council.

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in higher education places at (a) higher national, (b) undergraduate and (c) postgraduate level in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for individual colleges and higher education institutions in Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. While the Scottish government grants funding for a proportion of higher education activity at Scottish insti…

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in providing (a) Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) weekly payments and (b) EMA bonuses to college students in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: The table below details the amounts invested in providing Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in (a) weekly payments and (b) bonuses to college students over the last five academic years for which published figures are available. <table border=1 c…

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in student support for further education students in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table details the amounts invested in student support from 2006-07 to 2010-11 including the real terms change in each year. A comparison of initial allocations to student support over the last five years shows an increase, in real terms, of over…

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on college teaching funding in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Answer · Keith Brown: Decisions on the allocation of resources to colleges, including the amount distributed as teaching funding, are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member.

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of college weighted student units of measurement (WSUM) were funded in terms of teaching grant in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and I will ask the Chief Executive to write to the member

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is incurred by each individual drop-out from an (a) undergraduate degree, (b) HNC and (c) HND course.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for individual colleges and higher education institutions in Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. The cost associated with each individual drop-out from particular courses would depend on a number of factors…

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of students withdrew from (i) HNC and (ii) HND courses before completion in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is a matter for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). This information is not held centrally. HESA produce performance indicators for UK higher education institutions which include non-continua…

21 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections of home education have been used in the past year.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35399 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

21 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how and with what frequency inspection of home education is carried out.

Answer · Michael Russell: In December 2007, the Scottish Government published statutory guidance on home education, following consultation. In that guidance it is recommended that local authorities maintain annual contact with home educating families. Precisely how contact is establis…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop models of early years service delivery that combine public sector and partners working alongside each other to common objectives.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35254 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busines…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure local reviews of partnership arrangements to align them with outcomes and start developing longer-term and more strategic partnerships.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). The Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) approach and methodology facil…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop clear strategic leadership for 0 to 3 years services.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). Effective local implementation of the Early Years Framework is the key to ac…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many community planning partners have commissioned a locally developed plan and change programme for providing more co-ordinated sets of supports for children and families.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35251 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Def…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that community planning partners commission a locally developed plan and change programme for providing a more co-ordinated set of supports for children and families, building on integrated children’s se…

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). Single outcome agreements (SOAs) are the mechanism in the relationship b…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that nurseries and schools support outdoor learning and outdoor play.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). The Scottish Government is keen to see all our children and young people…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to promote positive environments for children and families through (a) planning, (b) regeneration and (c) transport policies.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). Through the community planning partnerships and children''s services pla…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop local play and green space policies and improve play opportunities.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). The Scottish Government launched a two year Go Play Fund in 2009, a £4 m…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to (a) develop and (b) market a single gateway to a range of advice and information for children and families.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). The Scottish Government is working with local authority partners to furt…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to identify how to address gaps in childcare accessibility.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35245 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Def…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a strategic view of childcare accessibility.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). This is a medium term action in the framework and we will take it forwar…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to continue to promote uptake of the UK childcare vouchers scheme by employers and employees.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). The Early Years Framework committed the Scottish Government to promoting…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to study the characteristics of successful early years workforce models in other countries and what action it has taken on the findings.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35229 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Def…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reflections it has made since the publication of the Early Years Framework on the priority areas in local early years continuing professional development and training programmes and what action has been taken as a result.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W“35240 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Def…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to use a common values statement and an analysis of skills and gaps to identify the core skills needed to deliver the Early Years Framework and Getting it Right for Every Child.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35225 and S3W-35240 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to commission an analysis of skills and skills gaps across the different professions in early years services.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402) The Scottish Government has commissioned the University of Strathclyde t…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to equip all young people to make positive choices about pregnancy and parenthood.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402). Education has a key role to play in ensuring that young people make inf…

9 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that the best use is made of universal services to better meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402) Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) <…