Parliamentary questions

Rhona Brankin

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

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it will make for schools where classes are already at the maximum class size of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3 and additional pupils enrol mid-session.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: For practical reasonsthere needs to be a degree of flexibility in setting class size maxima. The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland)Regulations 1999 which reduced primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 30allowed certain exceptions to the …

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support schools and local authorities in meeting the planning and organisational implications arising from the formation of new composite classes to meet the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The formation of classesto meet our class size commitments is a matter for local authorities in the lightof the requirements of individual schools. As part of our commitment we would alsoexpect composite classes in primary 1 to primary 3 to have a maximum of …

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to consider double open-area classrooms of 36 pupils with two teachers as meeting the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The formation of classesand use of accommodation in schools is a matter for local authorities in the lightof an individual schools circumstances. Class size maxima of 30 were introducedin Primary 1 to Primary 3 by The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Sc…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to revise the formula for calculating the operational capacity of classrooms to meet the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In 2004, the formerScottish Executive issued guidance to local authorities on determining school capacitieswhich specifically addressed an exception to the duty to comply with placing requestsin certain circumstances. The guidance did not proffer a formula, r…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if the implementation of the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3 results in the loss of educational amenities, what measures it intends to take to maintain a stimulating and diverse learning environment in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Local authoritiesand schools themselves are responsible for the provision of appropriate andsuitable learning and teaching environments. The Scottish Government willcontinue to work in partnership with them in their endeavours towards continualimprovement in …

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor any loss of non-class teaching educational space as a result of schools meeting the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 and primary 3 and publish annual findings (a) by local authority and (b) for Scotland.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The detailed managementand usage of school accommodation is the responsibility of local authorities andschools themselves and is not and has not been subject to Scottish Government monitoring.

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish annual figures on the number of schools meeting the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3 (a) by local authority and (b) for Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Data on individualclass sizes is collected annually as part of the annual school census and subsequentlypublished as a dataset. This practice will continue.

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of non-class teaching educational space, including libraries, halls and gyms, will have to be utilised to meet the maximum class size pledge of 18 pupils in primary 1 to primary 3.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The detailedmanagement of school accommodation is the responsibility of local authoritiesand schools themselves. Classrooms, libraries, halls and gyms are all integralparts of the learning and teaching areas within schools. In consideringaccommodation require…

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the main conclusions were of the Scottish Council for Research in Education’s review of the literature on class sizes.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Council for Research in Education’sreview of the literature on class sizes was published as part of the interim reportof the Class Size and Resources Working Group on 28 June 2006. It can be accessed using the following link:<ahref="http:/…

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Discipline Stakeholder Group has met since its inception and on what dates.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Since its inceptionin 2004, the Discipline Stakeholder Group (DSG) has met approximately twice a year.I expect that pattern to continue. The most recent meetings took place on: 6 September2006, chaired by Peter Peacock; 1 March 2007, chaired by Hugh Henry, an…

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the minutes of meetings of the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group held in 2007.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Class Sizeand Resources Working Group met on 7 March (Bib. number 44148) and 21 June 2007 (Bib. number 44149) and copies of the minutes ofthese meetings have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what staffing commitments are attached to education priorities for (a) Additional Support for Learning support, (b) additional support needs in-service training, (c) additional support staff, (d) additional teachers for early years, (e) alternatives to exclusion, (f) continuing profession…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: For 2007-08, the NationalPriorities Action Fund was allocated to local authorities across the following fundingstreams: (a) Additional Support for Learning (ASL) support, (b) additional supportneeds (ASN) in-service training (INSET) (c) additional support sta…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the final report of the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group will have on its class sizes policy.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The final report of the Class Size and Resources Working Group was published on 20 November 2007. Its conclusions focus on undertaking further researchon the impact of class sizes on attainment and I will consider the research proposalsin due course.

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the final report of the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group has not been published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The final report of the Class Size and Resources Working Group was published on 20 November 2007. It is largely a historic document, with much of itsmaterial already in the group’s interim report published on 28 June 2006. Ministers and officials have been en…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has been in possession of the final report of the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I received a copyof the final report of the Class Size and Resources Working Group on 12 November 2007 and it was published on the Scottish Government websiteon 20 November and reported in a press release on the same day.

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final report of the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Class size andResources Working Group final report was published on 20 November 2007.

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers (a) Additional Support for Learning support, (b) additional support needs in-service training, (c) additional support staff, (d) additional teachers for early years, (e) alternatives to exclusion, (f) continuing professional development, (g) Curriculum for Excellence,…

5 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the £40 million capital funding for reducing class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 has been paid to schools in areas of multiple deprivation.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This funding was allocatedto local authorities rather than to specific schools. The allocation was explainedin a letter to local authorities of 10 July 2007, a copy of which is available in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 43795). Within…

5 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures effectiveness in tackling child poverty.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis committed to the UK Government’s target to eradicate child poverty by 2020.As the new national outcomes and indicators that we published last week makeclear, we will measure the effectiveness of our combined efforts to tacklechild po…

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research indicates that compulsory charges for out-of-town parking contribute to the regeneration of town centres.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmentis not aware of any research on the impact of compulsory charges for out-of-townparking on the regeneration of town centres.

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the levying of charges for parking at out-of-town shopping developments.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmenthas not investigated the merits of levying charges for parking at out-of-town shoppingdevelopments. One of the strategic outcomes we are aiming for in relation to transportis to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of pu…

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many parents have made placing requests for children with additional support needs outwith their own local authority areas in each year since 2004 and how many such requests have been successful.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The information requestedis not held centrally.

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider amending the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to enable parents of children with additional support needs to make placing requests in local authority areas outwith their own.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5778 on 6 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what difference the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 has made to placing requests from parents of children with additional support needs.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Information on thenumber of placing requests made by parents of children with additional support needsis not held centrally.

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider amending the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to ensure that parents of pupils with additional support needs have the same rights as other parents to make a placing request for their children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is the intentionof the Scottish Government to ensure that parents of pupils with additional support needs have thesame rights as other parents to make a placing request for their children to attend schools in other local authorities.If necessary, we…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under the age of 16 work in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: The official sourcefor employment in Scotland is the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFSonly collects information on employment status of those aged 16 and over. This isdue to the school leaving age in the UK and the definition of working age.However, r…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance is provided to local authorities on working children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Guidance for localauthorities on children and young people at work, including information on maximumnumber of hours children under 16 may work, was issued in September 2006.The guidance is availablefrom the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. …

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 51 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 is protecting children.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 51 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 sets the limits on physical punishment clearly and for the benefit of children. It is illegal to punish children by:ShakingGiving blows to the headUsing implements, such as canes or b…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many parents have been prosecuted, successfully or otherwise, under section 51 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Parents cannot beprosecuted under section 51 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003. This section provides for a defence in certain circumstancesto a charge of assault in cases involving the physical punishment of children. Thissection also clarifies the…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a 50% increase in free nursery provision will have on the childminding workforce.

Answer · Adam Ingram: In January 2007, justunder 25% of all children looked after by childminders were aged three years andfour years and therefore eligible for pre-school education.It is not possibleto say at this stage what impact an increase in free pre-school education …