Parliamentary questions
Hugh O'Donnell
361 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that its concordat with local government provides for full delivery of Scotland’s responsibilities under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government supports the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and is committed to the better implementation of the convention rights in Scotland. We are committed to working with local authorities to achieve the 15 na…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have returned to their country of origin in each of the last five years, having failed to meet the financial threshold which allows them to extend their stay under the Fresh Talent initiative.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: This is a matter for the UK Government and the Scottish Government does not hold the data requested. Data on the successful applications to other managed migration schemes is held by the UK Borders Agency (UKBA). The Scottish Government is currently in discus…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the Fresh Talent initiative and what costs have been incurred since its inception, broken down by month.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: A <i >Progress Report On The Fresh Talent Initiative</i> was produced by the University of Strathclyde and published on the Scottish Government''s website on 30 October 2006. As part of the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the initiative, the Scottish Go…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers who applied for teaching posts through the Fresh Talent initiative have been added to the General Teaching Council for Scotland register since the creation of the Fresh Talent scheme.
Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally or by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.</p>
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationer teachers who completed their probationary year were subsequently not admitted to the full register of the General Teaching Council for Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The General Teaching Council for Scotland have supplied the following figures relating to probationer teachers who completed their probationary year but did not achieve the standard for full registration by the end of that year.</b></p> <p >The figures disti…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have been removed from the General Teaching Council for Scotland register in each of the last five years.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The number of teachers removed from the General Teaching Council for Scotland register in each of the last five years is shown in the following table. This information was provided by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.</p> <table border=1 cellspacin…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how school leadership and staff of an inspected school have the opportunity to contribute to the final inspection report by HM Inspectorate of Education.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The findings of an inspection are reported orally to the head teacher at the end of the inspection and any comments made are taken into account in drafting the final report.</p> <p >In normal circumstances head teachers and their relevant local authority are…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what continuing professional development is provided for employees of HM Inspectorate of Education.
Answer · Maureen Watt: HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) is strongly committed to continuing professional development (CPD) for all its employees. HMIE use a variety of approaches to delivering programmed CPD for inspectors and assistant inspectors amounting to an average of eigh…
25 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what professional expertise inspectors acting for, or employed by, HM Inspectorate of Education are required to have.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Inspectors are required to have a relevant degree, with first or second class Honours, or have other means to demonstrate achievement of an equivalent standard. They must have an appropriate professional qualification in education or services for children. In…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to unlock the potential of volunteering in Scotland, in light of the statement in Government Economic Strategy that volunteers have a part to play in the future prosperity of the nation, and how the Scottish Government plans to maximise the impact of volunteering in the publi…
Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to ensuring that the third sector, which includes for example, volunteering, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, plays a central part in our overarching purpose to create a successful country where all can flourish.</p> <p >Our c…
19 Jun 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is taking forward the development of a national representative body for parents.
Answer · Maureen Watt: On 7 June, we ran a national conference for parents and Parent Councils which attracted around 150 delegates from all over Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary addressed the conference and made clear that it is not for government to take snap decisions and impose …
3 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13207 by Maureen Watt on 3 June 2008, how many of the teachers completing their probationary years will have permanent teaching posts in August 2008, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Local authorities are responsible for the employment of teachers and the form of contract. The information requested is not held centrally. It is also unlikely that local authorities will have finalised their staffing allocations for next session at this time…
3 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13210 by Maureen Watt on 3 June 2008, how many permanent special educational needs teachers will be recruited, trained and deployed by each local authority in each of the next four years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: It is the responsibility of local authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers with the appropriate professional skills and knowledge.</p>
27 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support medical and nursing staff in the NHS whose car use is essential for work, in light of rising fuel costs.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I do fully appreciate the concerns being expressed by staff on this issue and can confirm that a UK-wide review of mileage allowances is being taken forward through a mileage allowances sub-group of the UK Staff Council. Meetings of the sub-group have been ar…
27 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards to minimise the negative impact of medical and nursing staff having to use their cars for work purposes.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I can confirm that the up-rating of mileage allowances payable to staff who have to use their car for work purposes was discussed at a meeting of the Scottish terms and conditions committee (STAC) on 29 May. STAC is a partnership organisation which exists to …
27 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to mitigate the impact of fuel cost increases on medical and nursing staff in the NHS for whom car use is essential.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The terms and conditions for NHSScotland medical and non-medical staff allow for the payment of mileage allowances where car use is essential. Mileage allowances are agreed through the UK NHS Staff Council whose membership includes representatives of trades u…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken a future workforce needs assessment for special education institutions.
Answer · Maureen Watt: All teachers in publicly funded special education institutions are trained primary or secondary teachers and account is taken of them in the annual teacher workforce planning exercise for these sectors.</p>
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of permanent teaching posts in special education institutions.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13208 on 4 June 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/wa.…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many permanent teaching posts it expects to be available for the 2008-09 academic year.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government carries out an annual teacher workforce planning exercise overseen by a group with representatives of COSLA, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, teacher unions higher education institutes and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Educat…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified teachers are completing their probationary years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Three thousand, four hundred and fifty-four probationers (1,833 primary and 1,621 secondary) are currently on the 2007-08 induction scheme and are due to complete their probationary year. The vast majority will complete successfully and gain full registration…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students are undergoing teacher training.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12140 on 30 April 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…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what future workforce needs assessment of teaching numbers has been undertaken.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Estimates of the future requirements for teachers are set out in the statistical bulletin <i >Teachers in Scotland 2007</i> and can be accessed at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/114">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publ…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made of school rolls over the period of the current spending review.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Estimates of future pupil numbers are set out in the statistical bulletin S1 and S2 Maths and English classes, Children Educated Outwith School, Pupil Projections and Provisional Pupil Numbers and can be accessed at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publica…
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific arrangements are in place for local authorities to maintain teacher numbers in the face of falling school rolls, as set out in the concordat with local government.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Local government will receive a record funding settlement of £34.9 billion over the spending review period, halting the recent decline in local government’s share of the Scottish budget. Under the terms of the concordat local government is able to retain effi…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all members of the new regional consultative boards for Scottish Enterprise will be subject to scrutiny and regulation by the Standards Commission for Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Enterprise board will retain ultimate responsibility for decisions on behalf of that organisation and will therefore be subject to scrutiny and regulation under the ethical standards framework as overseen by the Standards Commission for Scotland.…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage local partners to develop bids for pump-priming funding for clinical networks for autism.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12743 on 15 May 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…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make available pump-priming funding for clinical networks for autism.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government would be prepared to consider the possibility of pump-priming funding for clinical networks for autism spectrum disorder, provided the development of such a network had the support of the appropriate planning body, and a clear commitme…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what groups providing services for autism it funds.
Answer · Shona Robison: The majority of services for people on the autism spectrum are provided through local authorities or health boards. The Scottish Government does however directly fund a number of national voluntary organisations, including those involved in the provision of s…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the range of initiatives it supports to develop managed clinical networks for autism.
Answer · Shona Robison: Proposals for the development of managed clinical networks (MCNs) for autism spectrum disorder should be considered by NHS boards and their planning partners in the first instance. Guidance on strengthening the role of MCNs has been issued, which indicates th…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it supports to develop managed clinical networks for autism.
Answer · Shona Robison: <i >Better Health, Better Care</i> sets out the Scottish Government''s commitment to the continued development of managed clinical networks and managed care networks where it is considered that such an approach will bring tangible benefits, particularly for t…