Parliamentary questions
Rhona Brankin
707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify its position in respect of the alcohol controls imposed at designated sporting events played at designated sports grounds under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.
Answer · Frank McAveety: We are conscious that there isa pressing need to clarify the misunderstanding about the extent of the presentcontrols. The 1995 act controls were intended to apply only to international rugbyunion matches played at Murrayfield and Hampden at senior men’s leve…
13 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the report of the Religious Observance Review Group.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The report is published on14 May 2004 and distributed to a wide range of interested groups and individualsas well as to every headteacher in Scotland. Copies are available in the Parliament’sReference Centre (Bib. number 32612) I am pleased with their broad c…
11 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what activities are planned by it and VisitScotland in association with the visit of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra to Sweden in October 2004.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Following the success of theExecutive’s “Scotland in Sweden” event in 2002, several new direct air routes betweenScotland and Sweden have been established, and VisitScotland now regardsSweden as an important target market. In order to take advantage of the gr…
28 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in releasing public land for the development of affordable housing.
Answer · Margaret Curran: There aremany potential uses for surplus public land, although it cannot be assumed thatall is suitable for housing development. There are many examples of development,including affordable housing, on former public land but this is not a subjecton which we co…
14 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how policy is developing to address the issue of school leavers not entering education, employment or training.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There havebeen a number of developments to support school leavers at risk of not enteringeducation, employment or training, such as the delivery by Careers Scotland of new key worker services; investment in training and development and the new BRITEinitiative…
7 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how, in light of the announcement of 1,000 job losses at Standard Life, it will ensure that employees from Midlothian are given every opportunity to secure alternative employment or training as soon as possible.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Any job losses are deeply regrettableand we are doing everything possible to help those people affected find alternativeemployment as quickly as possible. Following the announcement I met Sandy Crombie,Group Chief Executive of Standard Life, and offered the E…
7 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor spending decisions made by local authorities under the City Growth fund.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Responsibility for managementand evaluation of individual City-Vision projects funded by the Cities Growth Fundrests with each of the six city local authorities, aslead partners in the Community Planning Partnership. </p><p>We expect rigorous processesto oper…
7 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding made available under the City Growth fund is intended to benefit areas surrounding cities.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7485 on 7 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/s…
7 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that funds allocated under the City Growth fund will be distributed fairly throughout the Edinburgh region.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In Building Better Cities, we commissioned each city to prepare a ten-year City-Vision. As part of the City-Vision process, we required detailed consultation with neighbouring local authorities and other regional stakeholders. </p><p>The City-Visions describe…
24 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it concurs with Scottish Office policy from 1998 that acknowledged the importance of ensuring that all those consulted on rural school closure proposals feel that they have been listened to and have had the opportunity to properly assess the balance of arguments for and against t…
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Education (Publication andConsultation Etc)(Scotland) Regulations 1981 place strict requirements on educationauthorities regarding consultations on school closure proposals. This includes provisionfor parents and other consultees to make representations t…
24 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities should, when proposing to close schools, ensure that the educational and financial gains deriving from any closure stand up to scrutiny and outweigh the negative effects that the closure may have on the rural community, children and families concerned.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7189 on 23 April 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
24 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it concurs with Scottish Office policy from 1998 that there must be a credible educational justification for the closure of schools and that education authorities should apply a test of proportionate advantage to any proposed closure of a rural primary school.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The test of proportionate advantageas set out in 1998 by Brian Wilson MP, when Scottish Office Minister for Education,reminds authorities that in any school closure proposal they should take accountof a wide range of issues and weigh up the advantages and dis…
23 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will update the legislation governing the closure of rural schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has no plans to amend the legislation relating to school closure proposals.</p>
23 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken following the reporters' reports on rural schools to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on 27 June and 4 July 2000.
Answer · Peter Peacock: These reports were addressedto the Parliament’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee, and contained no recommendationsdirected at the Scottish Executive.</p>
23 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural schools have avoided closure as a result of the measures in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Education (Scotland) Act 1981 to safeguard rural schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: It is for education authoritiesto consider the pattern of school provision within their areas. The extent to whichauthorities may have decided either not to propose the closure of certain schools,or not to proceed with certain closure proposals which they may…
23 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department implements policy on sustainable rural businesses.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive’s objectiveis sustainable improvement in economic performance for the whole of Scotland. <i>ASmart, Successful Scotland </i>sets out strategic direction for the enterprisenetworks, who are responsible for delivery of support to business…
23 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its Education Department implements policy on sustainable rural communities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7146 on 22 April 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on educational attainment in rural schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Executive places a high value on educational attainment in all schools. Achievement and attainment are the focus of one of the five National Priorities in Education, set by the Executive and endorsed by the Scottish Parliament, which apply to all educatio…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to encourage local authorities to make use of rural schools for the benefit of the local community.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The school estate strategy, developedjointly by the Scottish Executive and COSLA in 2002, recognises that all schools make animportant contribution to the wider community. They potentially provide a real orpotential resource for the community, for example, of…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines "rural" when categorising rural and urban schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no definition of a ruralschool in education legislation. </p><p>For various statistical purposes,the Scottish Executive classifies settlements of 3,000 or less people to be“rural.” That core definition is further refined by reference to settlements b…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its policy on sustainable rural communities is implemented by departments other than its Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is committed to maintaining strong, prosperous and growing communities inrural Scotland. Whilst the Environment and Rural Affairs Departmentcoordinates rural policy, the activity to deliver this commitment is undertakenby a wide range o…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be good practice by local authorities in consulting local communities on the closure of rural schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Parliament set in place a numberof statutory requirements governing consultations on school closure proposals inthe form of the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc) (Scotland) Regulations1981. The Executive expects authorities to implement the require…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to local authorities on the importance of maintaining sustainable rural communities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: In its dealings with local authorities,the Scottish Executive regularly makes clear its commitment to sustainable ruralcommunities. The Executive will shortly be publishing statutory guidance and advicenotes for Community Planning partners, including local au…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on parents being able to send their children to the school of their choice.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Local authorities responsiblefor providing adequate and efficient education services for their area. Within any area we consider that parental choice is an important part of the Scottish school education system.</p>
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any evidence that pupils from rural schools are less fit than their urban counterparts.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Executive is not aware ofany evidence available to indicate that pupils from rural schools are less fit thanpupils from urban schools.</p>
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether pupils attending rural schools have the same entitlement to information technology facilities as those pupils attending urban schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Education authorities are responsiblefor the provision of information technology (ICT) facilities in their schools. the Scottish Executive provides financial support for the cost of ICT in schoolsto all education authorities. Finances are provided with no ass…
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to local education authorities on minimising travel distances to schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: No such advice has been given.The pattern of school provision and catchment areas is best determined at locallevel. Many children travel considerable distances to and from school in many partsof Scotland.</p>
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any research evidence to suggest that the fabric of school buildings alone accounts for differences in educational attainment.
Answer · Peter Peacock: A wide range of factors bearon educational attainment. We are unaware of any research which suggests that thefabric of school buildings alone accounts for differences in attainment.</p>
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any research evidence that pupils from rural schools perform less well at secondary school level than their urban counterparts.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research with this conclusion.</p>
22 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any research evidence that urban schools perform better than rural schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research which show that urban schools performbetter than rural schools. I refer the member to the National StatisticsPublication: Social Focus on Urban Rural Scotland 2003 which gives a variety ofdata comparing pupi…