Parliamentary questions

Rhona Brankin

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

15 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been on the construction of the new Midlothian community hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As indicated in my reply to your question on 20 September 2007, final approval would be granted following review of a Full Business Case. This has now taken place and approval was given to NHS Lothian on 22 December 2008. Financial close is scheduled to be re…

8 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to bring the Creative Scotland Bill back to Parliament.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…

6 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) offices in Midlothian play an important role in providing employment in the county.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have an interest in the support provided locally by all public bodies including the SQA. According to the Annual Population Survey, July 2007 to June 2008, the 231 jobs currently provided by the SQA in Midlothian account for 0.6% of the 41,000 peop…

6 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made on the proposed relocation of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) from Dalkeith.

Answer · Maureen Watt: A business case covering options for addressing the accommodation issues SQA has with its premises at Ironmills Road, Dalkeith is being scrutinised. A decision will be taken once all the options have been fully considered.

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met Midlothian Council to discuss its school building programme; what the outcome was of these discussions, and when it is estimated that work will start on building the new Lasswade High School.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The most recent ministerial discussion with Midlothian Council covering the school building programme was with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 August, when the Council representatives set out their plans. Any decision to build a …

28 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the SNP’s manifesto commitment to an additional 10,000 respite weeks per year will be for families of disabled children.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15631 on 3 September 2008. 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://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

28 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the single outcome agreements that make reference to supporting families of disabled children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Local authority single outcome agreements are available on the website of the Improvement Service at: <a href="http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/core-programmes/single-outcome-agreements-/">http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/core-programmes/sin…

25 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many families of disabled children have benefited from the £34 million in consequentials arising from the UK Government allocating £340 million to such families.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Consequentials due to Scotland as a result of HM Treasury''s announcement of £340 million to support families with disabled children were included within the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 Settlement and were not hypothecated. The allocation of appropriat…

19 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts for new school buildings it is negotiating for which negotiations commenced after 3 May 2007.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The negotiation of such contracts is a matter for local authorities rather than the Scottish Government.

17 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it knows what proportion of pupils leaving primary school cannot read or write.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-15210 and S3W-15212 on 19 August 2008. 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.par…

17 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Circular 1/2007 issued on 2 April 2007 setting out guidance on class sizes still stands.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Yes Circular 1/2007 which gave guidance on the previous administration''s policies on P1 and S1/S2 maths and English classes is still extant. However, the commitment to reduce P1 to a maximum of 25 has been superseded by this government''s policy of reducing …

12 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P7 pupils do not achieve the appropriate 5-14 level in reading for understanding.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Level D is considered to be the level most pupils should be able to reach by the end of P7. It is recognised as a challenging level at which pupils should demonstrate an awareness of genre and a knowledge of language associated with literature, as well as th…

12 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that it does not have a definition of functional literacy, how it, schools, parents and pupils ascertain whether a pupil can read.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The existing 5-14 curriculum guidelines enable the assessment of reading to provide information for Scottish Government, schools, parents and pupils. Improving literacy and numeracy skills is at the heart of the new framework under Curriculum for Ex…

12 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it does not measure functional literacy in primary and secondary pupils.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Information about pupils'' achievement in reading and writing is collected through the Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) in relation to pupils in P3, P5, P7 and S2 using current definitions of reading and writing from the 5-14 curriculum guidelines. <…

11 Sep 2008 · Written Question

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Information on the number of pupils with English as an additional language is only available for 2006 and 2007. This information is collected via the annual September pupil census. The number of pupils with English as an additional language for 2007 …

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many school buildings were deemed to be in Condition Category D (economic life expired and/or risk of failure) in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 and how it accounts for any difference in the two sets of figures.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Data on the school estate was not collected from local authorities in 2006. The School Estate Statistics 2007 were published in July 2007 and are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46542). They show that there were a …

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what ornithological evidence it has received regarding the effectiveness of trapping and relocating sparrowhawks as a means of reducing predation on racing pigeons.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is aware of a range of opinions on the likely outcome of trapping and relocating sparrowhawks. The purpose of the proposed trial is to provide evidence whether this can be an effective means of reducing predation on racing pigeons.…

1 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £34 million allocated to it by HM Treasury for disabled children and their families has been spent on disabled children and their families.

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of children in S1 can read and write.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Information about pupils'' attainment in reading and writing in primary and early secondary can be obtained from the results of the Scottish Survey of Achievement. The most recently published results for reading were published in the 2006 SSA report,…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the Scottish Survey of Achievement commenced; what this review encompasses and when it will report.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Arrangements for the Scottish Survey of Achievement are being reviewed along with ongoing development of assessment arrangements to ensure that the scope and design of the survey is such that it provides a robust source of evidence on achievement within Curri…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can give an assurance that the Scottish Qualifications Authority will remain in Midlothian.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The SQA is currently in the process of reviewing a range of options for relocating from its accommodation in Ironmills Road, Dalkeith. A business case will be submitted to ministers containing a full appraisal of these options with recommendations. Ministers'…

13 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund a new school to replace Lasswade High School.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government does not allocate funding for specific schools. Midlothian Council has statutory responsibility for the provision and maintenance of school buildings in its area. Questions regarding investment priorities for individual schools are for…

13 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the funding required to replace Lasswade High School.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is aware of the broad range of costs involved in rebuilding all categories of school. The particular specification for and hence the potential costs of individual school replacements, are matters for, in this case, Midlothian Council.<…

13 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the condition of Lasswade High School.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In School Estate Statistics 2007 published in July 2007, Lasswade High School was reported by Midlothian Council as being in Condition Category D, namely economic life expired and/or risk of failure. This publication is available on the Scottish Gover…

25 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children leaving P7 can read.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government does not define a level at which a pupil is judged to be able to read. Level D is considered to be the level most pupils should be able to reach by the end of P7. However, it is recognised as a challenging level at which pupils should …

25 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many school nurses there were in 2007-08.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14825 on 18 July 2008. 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/webapp/w…

25 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the primary school population goes on to secondary school without achieving basic literacy requirements.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Within the 5-14 curriculum, the Scottish Government has assessed pupils'' skills in literacy by measuring achievements in reading and writing, through the Scottish Survey of Achievement. The most recently published results for reading were published …

26 Jun 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to encourage greater participation in the arts.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government wants to see extended access to the arts and other cultural activities in Scotland, and is actively pursuing a number of initiatives which will help to encourage wider participation. The aim is to enhance opportunities for people to pa…

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the publication of the minutes of the meeting of the Scottish Museums Council on 11 December 2007, whether it has any plans to provide the £3 million funding for Scotland’s three national industrial museums which the Scottish Museums Council has offered to administer.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Ministers will take a decision on how much investment is required, and the timescale, once we have the full business and economic case for investment. Historic Scotland will advise us on what programme of work may be required at the Mining Museum and I unders…

23 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils entering S1 are functionally literate.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government does not have a definition of functional literacy. Improving literacy and numeracy skills is at the heart of the Curriculum for Excellence programme. Within the programme, literacy is defined as the set of skills which allows …