Margaret Smith

5 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many allegations of misconduct made by pupils against teachers employed by local authorities in each year since 2005-06 were subsequently dropped by the pupil.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. </p>

5 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities who have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06 were cleared of the allegations.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. </p>

5 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities who have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06 were (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. </p>

5 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees.</p>

5 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the 2008 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Advanced results.

Answer · Michael Russell: There was no 2008 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. The study takes place every four years. The report for the 2007 study was published on 9 December 2008 and is available on the government website using the following link.</p> <p ><a hr…

5 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results.

Answer · Michael Russell: The report will be published on Tuesday 7 December 2010, to coincide with the publication by the OECD of the international report.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary; and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for (a) bullying and (b) homophobic bullying in the academic year 2008-09.

Answer · Keith Brown: The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, a total of 4 pupils (from primary, secondary and special schools) were excluded for ˜sustained peer exclusion for the purpose of causing significant distress''. None of these pupils had…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of illegal drugs at school in the academic year 2008-09.

Answer · Keith Brown: The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, 5 primary and 293 secondary school pupils were excluded for substance misuse “ not alcohol.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of alcohol at school in the academic year 2008-09.

Answer · Keith Brown: The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, 8 primary and 236 secondary school pupils were excluded for substance misuse “ alcohol.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of a weapon at school in the academic year 2008-09.

Answer · Keith Brown: The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, 255 primary and 370 secondary pupils were excluded for either physical assault using weapon or threat of physical violence using weapon or improvised weapon.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils were presented for the science baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.

Answer · Michael Russell: 119 pupils were presented for the Scottish Science Baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils were presented for the language baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.

Answer · Michael Russell: 19 pupils were presented for the Scottish Languages Baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will have schools offering the science baccalaureate in the academic year 2010-11.

Answer · Michael Russell: This data will not be available until January 2011 when centres submit their finalised entries to the Scottish Qualifications Authority.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will have schools offering the language baccalaureate in the academic year 2010-11.

Answer · Michael Russell: This data will not be available until January 2011 when centres submit their finalised entries to the Scottish Qualifications Authority.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the current financial year each local authority is dedicating to the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Answer · Michael Russell: We expect all local authorities to have in place plans for the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), but information on local funding to support these is not held centrally.</p> <p >Despite current financial constraints, the Scottish Government …

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of unemployed post-probation teachers.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has taken a number of actions to help support post-probation teachers into work.</b></p> <p >We made the difficult decision to reduce the intake of student teachers which will reduce the competition for posts among newly qualified te…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to borrow from the £10 million made available for early retirement packages for teachers.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is up to local authorities to decide whether they need to borrow to fund early retirement packages for teachers, depending on their particular local needs and circumstances.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children excluded from mainstream education in academic year 2009-10 for behavioural issues received counselling or assistance to specifically address this behaviour following exclusion, expressed as a percentage.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The information requested is not available centrally.</p>

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools are using temporary accommodation to teach in, broken down by local authority

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold details of temporary accommodation being used by local authorities.</p>

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost was incurred for venue hire for the Skills Development Scotland Shaping our Future roadshows.

Answer · Keith Brown: Procurement is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information.</p>

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost was incurred for materials for the Skills Development Scotland Shaping our Future roadshows.

Answer · Keith Brown: Procurement is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information.</p>

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total labour cost was incurred by Skills Development Scotland through removing staff from their regular employment for the duration of the Shaping our Future roadshows.

Answer · Keith Brown: Staffing is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information.</p>

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be put in place to assist people who face redundancy at Aegon UK’s Edinburgh office.

Answer · Jim Mather: AEGON has stressed that it is determined to work with its employees and the unions at the facility to minimise job losses and in particular, compulsory redundancies at its Edinburgh office.</p> <p >AEGON is unable, at this time, to offer any details on the n…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aegon UK over reported job losses at its life and pensions division based in Edinburgh.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth spoke to Otto Thoresen, Chief Executive of AEGON UK the day before the company announced the review of its operations. He assured Mr Thoresen that the Scottish Government will provide all possible suppo…

24 Jun 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS funds private ambulance transfers of patients when a bed in a more suitable unit is available but no Scottish Ambulance Service vehicle is available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Where it is clinically appropriate to do so, and when patient safety will not be compromised, NHS boards can fund private ambulance services to undertake patient transport or transfer services.</p> to

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has agreed any points for action with the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association following their decision to ballot on industrial action should “missing elements” of the Curriculum for Excellence not be met by June 2010.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government met with the Scottish Secondary Teachers'' Association on 21 May 2010 to discuss the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence and progress on the ten point plan and agreed to continue dialogue.</p>

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association regarding their decision to ballot on industrial action should the “missing elements” of the Curriculum for Excellence not be met by June 2010.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government regularly engages with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA), to discuss a range of issues. We last met with SSTA on 21 May 2010.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and local authorities since 1 January 2010 regarding school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.

Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and the Association of Directors of Education since 1 January 2010 regarding school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.

Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place, though the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning had a very wide ranging discussion with ADES (the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland) at an event in Dunkeld, held on 28 April 2010.…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence and discussions there have been between it and the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland since 1 January 2010 regarding school reform and when details of these exchanges will be made available.

Answer · Michael Russell: No such specific discussions have taken place.</p>