Hugh Henry

4 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the consultation paper on class sizes and teacher numbers announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is working with the Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities, with a view to issuing a joint consultation paper within the coming weeks. No date has been fixed for the publication.

4 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long it expects relationships between schools established under the improvement partnership programme announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013 to last and how it will determine whether a relationship is successful.

Answer · Michael Russell: Each improvement partnership will be tailored to individual circumstances. It is expected that some of these relationships will be over the longer-term, in some cases six months to a year or more. National criteria for success will be developed by key stakeho…

4 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when further details of the improvement partnership programme announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013 will be available; which stakeholders will participate, and how schools wanting to participate (a) can apply and (b) will be chosen.

Answer · Michael Russell: Full details concerning this programme will be available to all schools and local authorities by end June 2013. Between now and then Education Scotland will be working with key stakeholders including Association of Directors of Education in Scotland and Schoo…

4 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013 that “education is almost fully devolved”, whether it will confirm what aspects are reserved.

Answer · Michael Russell: Reserved aspects of education relate research councils and some other sources of university research funding such as the National Academies and the Technology Strategy Board, and UK government departments, some immigration matters are also reserved including …

7 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of 27 February 2013 of £30 million to create an additional 850 taught postgraduate places at universities, which courses will be funded, broken down by (a) university and (b) number of places allocated to each course.

Answer · Michael Russell: The 850 taught post graduate places have been allocated over 18 institutions as set out in the following table: Course Title Number of Places University of Aberdeen   Renewable Energy 5 Oil and Gas Engineering 5 Safety and Reliability Engineering for…

7 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government from which budget line the £30 million to create an additional 850 taught postgraduate places at universities announced on 27 February 2013 will be allocated; whether it is new money; whether it will be allocated directly to universities; whether prospective students will be liable to pa…

Answer · Michael Russell: The 850 taught post graduate places are additional funded places. The £30 million, which includes £6.2 million in 2013-14, to create an additional 850 taught post graduate places at universities is contained within the Higher Education budget line. The addit…

25 Feb 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address concerns expressed by teachers in an EIS survey on readiness for the new national qualifications.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11719 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 December 2012, when it will publish the Victims and Witnesses Bill.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government published the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill on 6 February 2013. The Bill and accompanying documents can be viewed online at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/576.aspx.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11719 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 December 2012, what the average payment from the fund has been in 2012-13 and was in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The average payment from the fund over the period 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012 is £423.33. The average for the last two years since March 2011 has been £425.35. There is no average payment from fund over period 2010-2011 as this was the year the fund was …

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11719 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 December 2012, what criteria are used in assessing applications for support to the fund.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The administration of the fund is a matter for Victim Support Scotland (VSS). VSS’s criteria is to provide support and principally pay for services where no other funding is available for victims who have been referred to, or have self-referred, to them.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11719 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 December 2012, how many people have received support from the fund in 2012-13 and how many received support in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The fund was established in 2010 and so figures for the period of 2010-11 are not available. In 2011-12, 116 victims received support totalling £52,244. Since 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012, Victim Support Scotland received 45 requests, totalling £19,050.

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11719 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 December 2012, how much has been given to maintain the fund in 2012-13 and how much was provided in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: An initial support grant of £30,000 was made by the Scottish Government when the fund was launched in 2010. Another grant of £15,000 was made in September 2012, and a further £15,000 is due in September 2013. The Victim Support Scotland Campaign Board have al…

28 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11719 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 December 2012, how Victim Support Scotland publicises the fund.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The administration of the fund is a matter for Victim Support Scotland (VSS). All VSS local services are aware of the Victim’s Fund. When staff and volunteers who are dealing directly with victims of crime know that they have a case which fits the criteria, t…

9 Jan 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason reported death rates at the Royal Alexandra Hospital are higher at the weekend than on weekdays.

5 Dec 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a Scottish hardship fund for victims of crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government already provides direct funding to Victim Support Scotland to maintain a Victims’ Fund, which provides direct assistance to victims of crime. We will be bringing forward shortly, within the Victims and Witnesses Bill, proposals for a v…

5 Dec 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the hardship fund for victims of crime announced by the UK Government will be available to victims of crime in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. The specific hardship fund announced by the UK Government is not part of the statutory Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and is available only to victims in England and Wales who meet the specific eligibility criteria.

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of people appointed to the boards of public bodies since May 2011, broken down by (a) body and (b) renumeration.

Answer · John Swinney: Details of people appointed to the boards of public bodies since May 2011, broken down by (a) body and (b) remuneration is provided on the Appointed for Scotland website which contains full details of all regulated boards and current board members appointed b…

19 Nov 2012 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning first became aware that there would be a reduction in college budgets for 2012-13.

19 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the note lodged in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) by the First Minister (Official Report, c. 13591) was prepared.

Answer · Michael Russell: The note lodged with SPICe is an extract from a ministerial briefing created at the start of the Parliamentary term, and which is updated regularly.

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether staff responsible for (a) managing and (b) processing student awards have been allocated any tasks associated with the recently-announced student funding payment review.

Answer · Michael Russell: Staff at the Student Awards Agency for Scotland responsible for managing and processing student awards remains focused on finalising applications for the 2012-13 session. No tasks associated with the recently commissioned student funding payment review have y…

12 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are responsible for (a) processing and (b) managing applications for student loans and how much staff time will be being spent on the recently-announced student funding payment review.

Answer · Michael Russell: There are currently 163 staff (153.9 full-time equivalent) working within the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. All are Scottish Government civil servants. Of these, 115 staff (108.4 full-time equivalent) are responsible for processing applications and dea…

12 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure the independence of the person nominated to carry out the recently-announced student funding payment review.

Answer · Michael Russell: The recently commissioned review will be led by David Wallace, deputy chief executive of the Student Loans Company (SLC). David Wallace is an employee of SLC and chosen for his experience and expertise. He will remain independent of the Scottish Government …

12 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff previously employed to process applications for student loans have moved to a different post since 15 October 2012.

Answer · Michael Russell: Staff employed to process applications at the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) process all elements of a student’s application for support including fees, loan or bursary. Since 15 October 2012, two members of staff have moved post, on either transfe…

12 Nov 2012 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the appropriateness of the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in relation to the chair of Stow College.

29 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many firms with a workforce of 50 or over relocated to England in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on the number of firms with a workforce of 50 or over which have relocated to England is not centrally held.

29 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many firms with a workforce of 50 or over relocated to elsewhere in Europe in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on the number of firms with a workforce of 50 or over which have relocated to elsewhere in Europe is not centrally held.

29 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many firms with a workforce of 50 or over closed down in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. 

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on the number of firms with a workforce of 50 or over which have closed down is not centrally held. Information on the business death rate for firms of all sizes can be found at the following link: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/busi…

21 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the minimum time that students with dual nationality have to be resident in an EU state other that the UK to qualify for free tuition has been set at three months.

Answer · Michael Russell: References to three months derive from Article 7 of Directive 2004/38/EC which sets out which European Union citizens shall have a right of residence for greater than three months in another member state.

21 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-00841 by Alex Salmond on 13 September 2012 (Official Report, c.11417), how the figure suggesting a rise of 217 full-time equivalent staff was calculated.

Answer · Michael Russell: The First Minister was referring to the most recently published staffing statistics from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) which show an increase of 217 full-time equivalent staff between 2006-07 and 2010-11.

21 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a student from overseas who has previously been resident in Scotland can qualify for free tuition and, if so, how long they would need to be resident in Scotland to do so.

Answer · Michael Russell: An overseas (Non EU) student who is settled in the UK and Islands within the meaning of the Immigration Act (1971), who has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the preceding three years and is ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant dat…