Parliamentary questions
Rhona Brankin
707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its news release of 11 June 2009 on national qualifications, which school departments will be accountable for pupils attainment in literacy and numeracy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: All staff will be responsible for developing young people''s literacy and numeracy skills. It will be the responsibility of individual schools to agree specific arrangements for developing and assessing these skills which are best suited to their particular c…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its news release of 11 June 2009 on national qualifications, what plans it has for secondary school pupils to sit tests in literacy and numeracy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Assessment in secondary school will focus on ensuring the further development and appropriate formal recognition of literacy and numeracy skills through the new national literacy and national numeracy qualifications. The qualifications will be awarded on the …
11 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since publication of the school census figures for 2008-09 staffing levels to address the decrease in teacher numbers.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are taking forward all 12 recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group including that relating to achieving greater reconciliation between local workforce decision making and the national workforce planning process.</p> <p >We are currently eng…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the £36 million announced in its news release of 13 May 2009 for NHS boards to identify and help people with alcohol problems will be spent on addressing the needs of children and other family members of users.
Answer · Shona Robison: On 13 May, I announced a total of £36 million across Scotland in 2009-10 for NHS boards to tackle alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harm. This is a further 45% increase on our record increase of 150% in 2008-09.</p> <p >This will enable boards to invest in …
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to NHS boards and local partnerships on alcohol and drugs with regard to parental alcohol misuse and the need to identify and address the impact on children and families.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24490 on 12 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the number of rural primary schools with a shared head teacher, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Keith Brown: The number of rural primary schools with a shared head teacher at the September 2008 census is shown in the following table. The sharing of a head teacher by two schools is seen by some local authorities as preferable to having a teaching head teacher.</p> <…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce a basic food preparation course for every post-S2 pupil.
Answer · Keith Brown: The experiences and outcomes for health and wellbeing from three to 15 within Curriculum for Excellence, together with guidance for local authorities and schools on their duty under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007, describe th…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to balance the teaching of mathematics and science with the general curricular changes of the Curriculum for Excellence that may be considered to focus more on the teaching of arts and social sciences.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Breadth and depth are fundamental principles of Curriculum for Excellence. Under the Curriculum for Excellence framework, which has been developed on the basis of unparalleled engagement with the teaching profession and others, all young people are entitled t…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that the Curriculum for Excellence will achieve a balance of progress for pupils across all subjects, including mathematics and science, at all levels.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Progression to meet the varied needs of children and young people is a fundamental principle of Curriculum for Excellence. The experiences and outcomes, which have been developed on the basis of unparalleled engagement with the teaching profession and others,…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action would enable the discharging, at the earliest opportunity, of children and young people who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 and had been there for over three months.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committed to providing the best possible care for children and young people in Scotland. The best setting for the provision of care is dependent on the needs of the individual through consultation with the health professionals and t…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the prolonged inpatient stays for children and young who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 and had been there for over three months.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on patients who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 is not yet available.</p>
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children and young people who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 and had been there for over three months could have been cared for at home.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on patients who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 is not yet available.</p>
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children and young people who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 had been there for over three months.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on patients who were in hospital on 21 May 2009 is not yet available.</p>
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how knife crime in schools is reported to the Scottish Government.
Answer · Keith Brown: The annual national statistics on exclusions from school centrally record reasons for exclusions including: physical assault with a weapon; physical assault with an improvised weapon, and threat of physical violence using a weapon or improvised weapon. Furthe…
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to support kinship carers since the passing of motion S3M-3078 on 11 December 2008.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The concordat agreement between local authorities and the Scottish Government contained a commitment to pay allowances to kinship carers of looked after children. All local authorities have stated that they will be meeting this commitment by 2010-11.</p> <p …
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason teacher numbers are not being maintained at 2007 levels.
Answer · Keith Brown: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. The concordat agreement contained sufficient funding for local authorities to maintain teacher numbers at 2007 levels.</p>
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s accommodation in Dalkeith has included consideration of alternative sites outside Midlothian.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The decision on the future of the Scottish Qualifications Authority''s (SQA) Dalkeith accommodation must deliver the best possible balance between value for money and the effective delivery of services to the public of Scotland at a time of increasing economi…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the links are between animal health and food and drink policy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A successful food and drink industry requires high-quality inputs. Animal health and welfare provides a significant support to a successful food and drink sector through its contribution to product quality and food safety.</p>
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the links between animal and human health are important to the economy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises that the links between animal and human health are important to the economy and puts significant effort into protecting public health from disease threats that are derived from animals. Examples of this are the veterinary su…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that animal science is a priority for the economy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: All science is a priority for the economy, as are higher and further education and outreach. However, the Scottish Government looks to the various science providers to come together in a co-ordinated way to provide maximum outcomes for the funds available.</p…
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it considers it possible to put science and technology at the heart of learning and teaching while reducing spending on school science.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23057 on 13 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.…
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it agrees with its chief adviser on science that a budget of £1,000 to deliver a full school course in science is “just not sustainable”, as reported in Times Educational Supplement Scotland on 17 April 2009.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23057 on 13 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it agrees with its chief adviser on science that the budgets available to some science teachers are “ridiculously low”, as reported in Times Educational Supplement Scotland on 17 April 2009.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This government is taking action to address the long-standing issues in science education in Scotland''s schools and a School Science Summit was held on 5 May 2009 bringing together a wide range of interests. Funding flowing to individual schools and to scien…
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it has a policy on children in hospital maintaining their education.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Education authorities have a duty under section 40 of the Standards in Scotland''s Schools etc Act 2000 in relation to pupils unable to attend a suitable educational establishment as a result of their prolonged ill-health. In such circumstances, an education …
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether children of primary and secondary school age in hospital can access education.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23056 on 28 April 2009. 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/…
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21825 by Keith Brown on 27 March 2009, how many of the new or refurbished schools referred to had their outline business cases agreed before May 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: Outline business cases for school building projects, whatever the means of procurement, can be subject to significant revision before the project proceeds to construction. The Scottish Government, like the Scottish Executive previously, does not agree outline…
17 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its annual spend on printing is and what percentage goes to Scottish companies.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Executive spent £2,177,273 on print in 2008-09, of which 92.8% was produced in Scotland.</p>
6 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recognition and support will be given to the work of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council in providing practical advice and support to parent councils, parent teacher associations, individual parents, local authorities and others involved in education.
Answer · Keith Brown: Adam Ingram acknowledged the good work of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) when addressing their 60th anniversary conference last November. A meeting between ministers and representatives of the SPTC is scheduled for next month to discuss their curr…
6 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it uses full-time equivalent when it reports annually on teacher numbers.
Answer · Keith Brown: Full-time equivalent figures accurately measure the size of the workforce available to schools.</p>
6 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its statisticians consider to be the best measure of teacher numbers for 2007-08.
Answer · Keith Brown: The updated number of teachers as at the teacher census in September 2007 is published in <i >Teachers in Scotland 2008</i>, available on the government website at the following link <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00720">www.scotland.gov.…