Rhona Brankin

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the 50% increase in the provision of free nursery education will be in place.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We are working withpartners in local government to develop a timetable for future increases to theprovision of free nursery education.</p>

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many families have benefited from an increased entitlement to pre-school education from August 2007.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5721 on 7 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…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the increased entitlement to pre-school education from August 2007 has led to more hours at nursery for children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is estimated thatfrom August 2007, up to 25,000 children, mainly in partner provider settings, arereceiving additional hours of free pre-school education or additional funding support,following the increase in hours to 475 per year.</p>

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many parents have benefited from an increased entitlement to pre-school education from August 2007.

Answer · Adam Ingram: All children eligiblefor free pre-school education are now entitled to 475 hours per year following theincrease from August 2007. The Pre-school and Childcare Statistics 2007 (<ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/26094517/0">http://www.scot…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase entitlement to pre-school education from August 2007.

Answer · Adam Ingram: On 20 June 2007 the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learningannounced an increase in the hours of pre-school education from 412.5 to 475 hoursper year. Funding was provided to local authorities to deliver the increased provisionfrom August 2007 a…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make induction a requirement for new entrants to childminding.

Answer · Adam Ingram: There are currentlyno plans to introduce mandatory training for childminders. However, the specifictraining needs of childminders are being considered as part of our wider workforcedevelopment activities affecting early years and childcare.</p><p>We have plan…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional capital resources to implement class size reductions will be included in the announcement on the strategic spending review.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is notappropriate to speculate on what may be included in future announcements.</p>

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £40 million capital allocation for schools, announced on 17 July 2007, was already part of the budget inherited from the previous administration and was not new money.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The £40 millionrepresents part of the total resource within the current spending review periodending in March 2008. Itsallocation, which raised the total Schools Fund capital grant available toauthorities this year from £106.05 million to £146.05 million, ref…

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will match brick for brick the 2007 Labour manifesto commitment to build 250 new schools from 2007 to 2011.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Our manifesto commitmentwas to match the previous Scottish Executive’s planned school building programmebrick for brick, by supporting the investment plans which were in place prior tothe election. The Scottish Government is held to account over its own manif…

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it plans to build from 2007 to 2011.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The specifics of investmentin school buildings are matters for local authorities. We have agreed investmentplans to deliver around 125 schools by 2011 and a number of major school refurbishments.</p><p>Beyond that we willbe considering, with authorities, what…

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lasswade High School is still one of six category D schools in line for urgent funding for a new school.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In <i>School EstateStatistics 2007</i> published on 12 July 2007, Lasswade High School is one of 138 schoolsin condition category D. This publication is available on the Scottish Governmentwebsite at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/0…

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the projected costs of the school estate management plans for each local authority area.

Answer · Maureen Watt: School Estate ManagementPlans are used by authorities to help them to identify needs and to determine theirfuture strategic priorities. The detailed content of each plan, including the wayfinancial information is presented, is a matter for each authority.</p>

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence of a link between obesity and deprivation.

Answer · Shona Robison: The mostrecent evidence, from the 2003 Scottish Health Survey, indicates that amongst adultmales (aged 16+ years) the relationship between obesity and deprivation is not clear.Results indicate that a higher proportion of males living in the most deprived fift…

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the proposed school closures since May 2007 that have come before ministers, showing the (a) recommendation by HM Inspectorate of Education and (b) decision subsequently taken on each one.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Ministers have decidedon two such cases, those of the proposed closures of Glentrool and Lochearnhead Primary Schools. The HM inspectorateof Education advice in both cases is available on the Scottish Government websiteat:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.g…

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Schools Fund capital allocation will be increased.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is not appropriateto speculate on what may be included in future announcements.</p>

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Schools Fund capital allocation will continue.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Discussions with COSLAabout future funding arrangements are on-going.</p>

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates of telephone calls made by the Minister for Children and Early Years to the five local authorities involved in the free school meals pilot as referred to at the meeting of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 26 September 2007 (Official …

Answer · Adam Ingram: I telephoned the leadersof Glasgow City Council, Fife Council and Scottish Borders Council on 21 September 2007 to discuss the free school meals trial.</p><p>Prior to that I visitedboth West Dunbartonshire Council and East Ayrshire Council on 10 July 2007 to …

19 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce a presumption against school closures in towns and cities.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We are committed tointroducing a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools and totightening the regulations for closing all schools. We will consult widely on aset of proposals to give effect to those commitments, in a way which will allowa…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role sustainable development education has in achieving a smarter and greener Scotland and why there is no mention of this in its skills strategy.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Education for sustainabledevelopment is a key element of both the Scottish Government’s Greener and Smarterstrategic objectives. The supportfor the eco schools programme and the opportunities presented by the developmentof Curriculum for Excellence will ensur…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was taken of the agenda for a greener Scotland in preparing its skills strategy.

Answer · Maureen Watt: To make Scotland greener we need people with the skills, expertiseand knowledge that will enable them to understand and act on these issues. Thatis why in preparing the skills strategy substantial advice was drawn from allportfolios of government with an inte…

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any local authorities using the additional Schools Fund capital money, linked to reducing class sizes, for any other purpose.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The announcement andallocation of the additional £40 million of Schools Fund capital grant made clearto authorities that if they are not yet in a position to spend it in connectionwith reducing class sizes they may, meantime, accelerate other priority project…

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance was given to local authorities on how the additional £40 million Schools Fund grant, earmarked for reducing class sizes, was to be spent.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The background tothe allocation of this additional £40 million was set out in a letter to local authoritiesof 10 July 2007. A copy is available in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 43795).</p>

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have spent the £40 million additional Schools Fund grant on reducing class sizes.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Schools Fund capitalgrant, including the additional £40 million, is for expenditure at any stage of the remainder of the financial year ending 31 March 2008.</p>

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated staffing and capital costs are to implement class size reductions to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Estimates of the staffingcosts required for class size reductions in primary 1 to 3 to a maximum of 18 arenot available broken down to local authority level. The number of teachers availableto reduce class sizes is dependent upon the number of pupils. Revised…

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice met councillors from the City of Edinburgh Council on 2 September 2007 to discuss proposed school closures.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Justice had no official engagements on that day.</p>

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister met councillors from the City of Edinburgh Council on 2 September 2007 to discuss proposed school closures.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The First Ministerhad no official engagements on that day.</p>

3 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence of a link between childhood obesity and deprivation.

Answer · Shona Robison: The evidence availablesuggests that there is no simple relationship between childhood obesity and deprivation.</p><p>Statistics on childhood obesity are available from themost recent Scottish Health Survey<b> </b>(2003) at (please see chapter 5).</p><p><ahref…

28 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-732 by Adam Ingram on 27 September 2007 (Official Report c. 2220), what the rationale is for piloting a universal entitlement to free school meals for primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in five local authority areas.

Answer · Adam Ingram: There is evidencethat a healthier diet leads to longer term health benefits. We are conducting thetrial of free school meals for primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in five local authoritiesbecause we want to investigate whether the provision of free school lunches…

28 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-732 by Adam Ingram on 27 September 2007 (Official Report c. 2220), what the estimated cost is of extending free school meals to those children whose parents are in receipt of maximum working families tax credit.

Answer · Adam Ingram: At the current rateof uptake of free school meals, we estimate that extending entitlement for freeschool meals to children whose parents are in receipt of maximum child tax creditand maximum working tax credit would cost approximately £17.3 million per year.<…

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the position on free school meals outlined in the 2007 SNP election manifesto.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Yes. Our first priorityis to conduct the free school meals trial for primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in fivelocal authorities from October until the end of March next year. In the future wewould like to extend entitlement for free school meals to families in re…