Parliamentary questions
Margaret Smith
931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional materials and information it will provide to employers to explain the Curriculum for Excellence and the new national qualifications and when these materials will be provided.
Answer · Michael Russell: We are in the process of carrying out research in order to establish employers current awareness of the Curriculum for Excellence programme, including on the new qualifications, and the additional details they require in order to tailor our future communicati…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what form the additional materials for pupils and parents to explain the Curriculum for Excellence will take and when these materials will be provided.
Answer · Michael Russell: We are currently developing further information material for parents and pupils, which will be issued during the summer term.</p> <p >We are also continuing to encourage schools to engage directly with parents using the materials available in the Curriculum…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many events will be held to allow head teachers to share best practice with regard to the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and whether these events will be held before August 2010.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is planning to hold five regional head teacher events, starting in September 2010. </p>
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) will work with local authorities and schools to support their implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence before August 2010.
Answer · Michael Russell: Yes, I can confirm that HMIE will work with local authorities and schools to support their implementation of Curriculum for Excellence before August 2010.</p> <p >This support is included in the 10-point plan which was published on 30 March 2010 and states …
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide further details of the proposal for literacy and numeracy units to be built into English and maths qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are currently scoping the proposed approach of building literacy and numeracy into English and Mathematics courses at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5, which was announced on 30 March. The Curriculum for Excellence Management…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be allocated to providing additional practical materials for teachers to support implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when teachers will be provided with these materials.
Answer · Michael Russell: Learning and Teaching Scotland''s (LTS) core remit covers, within existing resources, the production of relevant materials to support delivery of Curriculum for Excellence. This is an ongoing process, which will include support for the 10-point action plan. F…
7 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be allocated to provide tailored support for secondary schools requiring additional help in implementing the Curriculum for Excellence before August 2010.
Answer · Michael Russell: Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) are working with the Directors of Education to explore the types of materials which would be helpful to those secondary schools who have expressed a need for additional support.</p> <p >HMIe will report by the …
1 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will meet the gap in funding for universities due to the real terms reduction that they face in 2010-11.
Answer · Michael Russell: There is no gap in funding for universities. Within the 2010-11 Budget, Scottish universities receive a cash increase of just over £42.9 million in resource funding from 2009-10. This represents a 4.3% cash increase and a 2% real terms increase.</p>
1 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will continue to address the concerns of teaching unions that have called for a delayed implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: I have accepted the unanimous advice from the Curriculum for Excellence management board that the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence programme by August 2010 is realistic and achievable. The board includes representation from the Association of H…
1 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Curriculum for Excellence excellence group will produce materials or guidance for local authorities, schools, teachers or parents.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33027 on 4 May 2010.</p> <p >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/…
1 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how members of the Curriculum for Excellence excellence group will be selected and when.
Answer · Michael Russell: Officials are assessing the role of existing subject groupings in demonstrating excellence across curricular areas, and where additional forums need to be established.</b></p> <p >We are working with our partners, including Learning and Teaching Scotland, to…
1 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Curriculum for Excellence excellence group will work with local authorities and schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Excellence Groups will involve practitioners from local authorities and schools to demonstrate excellence in education across a range of subjects. The work of the groups will then be shared with schools across Scotland.</p>
1 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide further details about the new national qualifications.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33105 on 28 April 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/…
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to tackle violence in schools.
Answer · Keith Brown: Any violence in schools in unacceptable. The Scottish Government is committed to helping schools create peaceful and positive learning environments and is working to tackle serious indiscipline and violence in a variety of ways.</p> <p >Behaviour in Scottish…
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been excluded from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for verbal abuse in the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The number of pupils excluded from primary and secondary schools for verbal abuse in the last five years and total primary and secondary pupil numbers are provided in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > …
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been excluded from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for violence in the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The number of pupils excluded from primary and secondary schools for violence in the last three years and total primary and secondary pupil numbers are provided in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <…
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of incidents of verbal abuse in schools in the last five years was targeted at (a) another pupil, (b) a teacher and (c) another member of staff.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not collect information on incidents of verbal abuse in schools.</p>
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of incidents of violence in schools in the last five years was targeted at (a) another pupil, (b) a teacher and (c) another member of staff.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not collect information on incidents of violence in schools.</p>
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of verbal abuse have been reported in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not collect information on incidents of verbal abuse in schools.</p>
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of violence have been reported in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not collect information on incidents of violence in schools.</p>
24 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 20 March 2010, College places for 4,000, whether it will give preference in its allocation of this new funding to colleges that did not receive additional funding for places for 2009-10.
Answer · Keith Brown: Decisions on the funding of individual colleges are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I will ask the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to reply to the member.</p>
24 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 20 March 2010, College places for 4,000, whether it will allocate any of the £15.3 million funding to colleges that received additional funding for places for 2009-10.
Answer · Keith Brown: Decisions on the funding of individual colleges are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I will ask the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to reply to the member.</p>
24 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 20 March 2010, College places for 4,000, what factors will be used to determine how the funding is allocated across (a) local authorities and (b) colleges.
Answer · Keith Brown: Decisions on the funding of individual colleges are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I will ask the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to reply to the member.</p>
24 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 20 March 2010, College places for 4,000, whether the £8.4 million to which it refers is new money or whether it is the £8.4 million allocated for 2010-11 for additional funding for colleges places announced by the Scottish Funding Council on 9 July 2009.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Funding Council is using £8.4 million of its own resources as match-funding to secure an additional £6.9 million from European Structural Funds. This sum of £8.4 million was provided to the funding council as part of a two-year package of additi…
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding for concessionary travel, excluding that from the Bus Service Operators Grant, it has provided to each bus operator in 2009-10.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The total reimbursement paid to bus operators for concessionary travel for 2009-10, as at 30 March 2010 is as follows:</p> <p >Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People “ £176,939,845.60.</p> <p >Scotland-Wide Concessionary Travel Scheme f…
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are determined to create a balance between supporting the positive behaviour of the majority of young people, while tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) among the minority. Local agencies are best placed to decide the detailed strategy and range of measures…
11 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last received advice from the National Qualifications Steering Group regarding the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and the relevant timeframe.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32359 on 19 March 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/…
11 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met the National Qualifications Steering Group.
Answer · Michael Russell: NQSG''s role in providing the Scottish Government with advice on the development of National Qualifications has been subsumed within (a) the expanded role, remit and membership of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and its sub-group: the Qualifica…
11 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the National Qualifications Steering Group has made to the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board regarding the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and the relevant timeframe.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32355 on 17 March 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/…
11 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Qualifications Steering Group last reported to the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32355 on 17 March 2010.</p> <p >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…