Marilyn Livingstone

30 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any changes to the rates of support for further and higher education students which will apply in the academic year 2002-03.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Whilst opening Fife and Glenrothes Colleges' Institute of Applied Technology this morning I announced the new rates of support for students in further and higher education. I have therefore, today placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details o…

9 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking in order to protect children using the internet.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Scottish Executive is taking action in a number of areas to protect children's safety on the internet.<P>We are supporting the current UK-wide advertising campaign to protect children using the internet. The campaign seeks to raise public awareness of the…

2 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve child protection.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are always looking for ways to improve child protection. Current initiatives include the multi-disciplinary review of child protection which is due to report this summer and planned legislation to establish an index of persons unsuitable to work with child…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the benefits of Kirkcaldy and the surrounding area in relation to its policy of relocating public service jobs.

Answer · Peter Peacock: In December 2000 the Executive wrote to all Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Councils asking for information on potential relocation and development opportunities in their areas. The responses we received, including one from Fife Council, have helped in…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1558 by Donald Dewar on 28 September 1999, what definition of "Edinburgh" it uses for the purposes of its policy on the location and relocation of public service jobs in Scotland.

Answer · Peter Peacock: For the purposes of the relocation policy, Edinburgh is defined as the area within the Edinburgh City Council boundary.

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome is of the review of Community Learning Scotland as announced on 21 June 2001 by the Minister for Finance and Local Government in his statement to the Parliament.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A comprehensive review has been undertaken of the current role of Community Learning Scotland (CLS). This review has included responses from key stakeholders including CLS.<P>The Scottish Executive is fully committed to community learning and development as a…

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is seeking to improve information and communications technology in the classroom.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish ministers have, through the Excellence Fund and the National Grid for Learning, made investment in information and communications technology for our schools a priority. We are now seeing a significant increase in the number of modern computers in eve…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Studentship Scheme will be administered from academic year 2002-03 onwards.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Studentship Scheme (SSS) provides awards for Scottish domiciled students undertaking advanced postgraduate study in the Arts and Humanities. The SSS is currently administered by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). From academic year 20…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Scotland's manufacturing performance over the period of the four quarters up to 2001Q2 compares with the (a) north west, (b) north east, (c) Yorkshire, (d) East Midlands and (e) West Midlands regions of England.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Up to date quarterly Scottish manufacturing performance is measured using the Scottish Executive's Quarterly Scottish Gross Domestic Product estimates. Figures are not produced for the regions of England which allow comparison with Scotland's manufacturing pe…

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any financial support is currently available to blind people to allow them to be accompanied by an aide or companion on public transport.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Local authorities operate discretionary concessionary travel schemes under the provisions of the Transport Act 1985. Those provisions enable authorities, if they so wish, to provide concessionary travel arrangements to people accompanying blind travellers. Ce…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor the administration of Individual Learning Accounts in Scotland following the decision by the Department for Education and Skills to suspend them in England.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We are continuing to operate the financial monitoring and administrative management systems set up when Individual Learning Accounts were first established. In light of the DfES decision, we have reviewed current arrangements and introduced an additional laye…

15 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to increase female participation in Modern Apprenticeships in light of Blake Stevenson's report Mapping of Lifelong Learning Provision in Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: All Modern Apprentices have employed status and so participation by males and females will reflect recruitment trends in specific sectors. There is scope to maximise Modern Apprenticeships in sectors with less of an apprenticeship tradition, and which have hi…

15 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the further integration of entrepreneurship into further education curriculums.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The curriculum offered by an further education (FE) college is a matter for the college's Board of Management to determine. The Scottish Executive has, however, issued guidance to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council emphasising the importance of de…

11 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in establishing the advisory bodies to Careers Scotland, as set out in Careers Scotland - The Way Forward.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I chaired the first meeting of the shadow Ministerial Joint Supervisory Group on 27 August. We discussed the strategic barriers and opportunities presented by our vision for Careers Scotland, with a view to considering these at our next meeting. <P>Additional…

11 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry and Consignia to ensure that any reduction in postal services do not disadvantage customers dependent on the services provided by Post Office branches.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Post Office and postal services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.

8 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in setting up the review of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) indicated in the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning's guidance letter to SHEFC in November 2000.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I am today announcing the commencement of a Review of Higher Education in Scotland with the issue of a first stage consultation paper. This paper focuses on the past performance of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) as part of its quinquenn…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide all schoolchildren with their own personal e-mail accounts.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Pupils' e-mail addresses are provided by education authorities as part of the development of the National Grid for Learning in their schools. This development has been supported by £79.6 million from the Scottish Executive since 1999.<P>The Executive wrote to…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit in cutting the burden of red tape on Scottish business.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The IRIS Unit has discussed over 100 regulations with other departments, encouraged the use of the Enforcement Concordat and in February the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning announced enhancements to the Executive's improving regulation strategy,…

29 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any improvement in the proportion of groups such as mature persons, women and people from low socio-economic backgrounds entering higher education.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The proportion of women and mature students continues to grow with women students accounting for 54% and mature students for 45% of all HE students in Scotland.<P>For 1998-99, 18% of young full-time undergraduate entrants in higher education and further educa…

2 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people completed higher or further education courses in 1997 and how many started such courses in 2000.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: There were 52,175 graduates and diplomates from higher education courses in Scotland in 1996-97. Information is not available on the numbers completing further education courses in Scotland.<P>The latest year for which data on entrants is available is 1999-20…

19 Mar 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made in widening access to further education.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I am delighted to be able to say that on Monday 19 March, Wendy Alexander, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning announced a £19.5 million package of new support measures for further education students. The new measures will improve levels of support …

7 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the national guidelines for Local Economic Forums.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The national guidelines on Local Economic Forums have been published today on the Scottish Executive website. The guidelines have been issued following consultation with a wide range of interests. The Local Economic Forums are the main response to the ELL Com…

26 Feb 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what new initiatives the Scottish Executive plans to ensure that people are prepared for work.

Answer · Henry McLeish: On Monday we announced an extra £2.5 million to boost the delivery of information technology skills. This money will kick start the delivery of IT qualifications within our national adult training programme and fund a further 1,350 IT training places for unem…

25 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Strategy for Enterprise.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The remaining commitment from Review of Enterprise Networks is to produce a Strategy for Enterprise. Consequently, today I have published <I>A Smart, Successful Scotland - Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks</I> which provides a clear sense of direction and…

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further details it can provide in relation to its plans for an independent panel of subject experts to review all exam appeals which continue to give grounds for concern and, in particular, what the timetable is for the panel's work.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive wrote to Directors of Education, College Principals and other heads of centres on 18 December inviting them to identify candidates whose appeal results continue to give serious grounds for concern and to submit details of these on a pro…

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its final decisions are on the proposals set out in Scotland, the Learning Nation - Helping Students.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive's spending plans for the next three years include additional funding each year for the support of students in higher and further education, rising to £50 million extra in 2003-04. I am today pleased to announce the detail of how we intend to mak…

8 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its Equality Strategy will assist its drive for social justice.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Equality Strategy sets out how the Executive will tackle the barriers of prejudice and discrimination and address structural inequalities between groups. These principles underpin our drive for social justice.

12 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the take-up of flu vaccinations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: On 17 September I launched the Executive's publicity campaign, to encourage uptake of influenza vaccination in 2000-01 - press release 2476/2000 refers.<P>In addition, in recognition of the additional workload on general practices and to encourage uptake of v…

28 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to support young people in their transition from education to the workplace.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Measures include guidance to schools on the curriculum, practical training for young people through work experience programmes, and a range of enterprise education initiatives in schools. The Careers Service offers impartial information, advice and guidance o…

21 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage more women to participate in computing and ICT courses in further and higher education.

Answer · Henry McLeish: A wide range of initiatives is being undertaken both by the Scottish Executive, and by the universities and colleges themselves, to encourage and facilitate the participation of women in education and training generally. Women now comprise more than 50% of st…