Hugh O'Donnell

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5517 by Maureen Watt on 15 November 2007, how many schools it considers it will be necessary to (a) build, and (b) refurbish between May 2007 and May 2011 to match the previous administration’s planned school building programme brick for brick.

Answer · Maureen Watt: As indicated in the answer to question S3W-5517, our manifesto commitment was to match the previous Scottish Executive''s planned school building programme brick for brick, by supporting the investment plans which were in place prior to the election. We have …

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support local authorities to implement the recent Improving Enterprise in Education report by HM Inspectorate of Education.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We will shortly be announcing our priorities for local delivery of Determined to Succeed (DtS), our strategy for enterprise in education, over 2008-11. These priorities will reflect the recommendations in the recent HMIE report and our experience of deliverin…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support teachers in continuing professional development to deliver improvements in enterprise education.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The continuing professional development (CPD) of teachers is central in ensuring effective delivery of enterprising and entrepreneurial skills in the classroom. Through Determined to Succeed (DtS), our strategy for enterprise in education, we are developing a…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what barriers exist to the implementation of the recent Improving Enterprise in Education report by HM Inspectorate of Education.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Enterprise education, as delivered through Determined to Succeed (DtS), is entirely consistent with our overall purpose of sustainable economic growth and fully supports our national outcome of young people that are successful learners, confident individuals,…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to implement the recent Improving Enterprise in Education report by HM Inspectorate of Education.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We very much welcome the HMIE''s report. It outlined a number of highly positive outcomes achieved through effective delivery of enterprise in education, including the promotion of good attendance, behaviour, motivation and attainment as well as providing an …

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding has been made available in academic session 2007-08 to provide at least 250 more student places for the professional graduate diploma in primary education course.

Answer · Maureen Watt: An additional £1.095 million has been made available in academic session 2007-08 to fund additional places on the professional graduate diploma primary education course.</p>

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are currently in training across Scotland.

Answer · Maureen Watt: A total of 6,258 student teachers were enrolled on the four years BEd and one year PGDE courses at the start of academic session 2007-08.</p>

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the £9 million announced for teacher recruitment by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 has since been spent on recruiting pre-school and primary school teachers.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The £9 million for additional teachers announced on 20 June 2007 was for academic year 2007-08. This spanned two financial years and of the £6 million allocated in financial year 2007-08 £5,723,552 was claimed to recruit additional teachers.</p>

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the fully qualified teachers referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 as not yet in full-time teaching posts are now employed in pre-schools and primary schools (Official Report c. 880).

Answer · Maureen Watt: Funding for the additional teachers announced on 20 June 2007 was distributed through the National Priorities Action Fund and returns from local authorities indicate that they have employed 245 teachers. Local authorities claimed £5,723,552 from the National…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on recommendations made by the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group about the need for future research into class sizes, including a short term study measuring the impact of the August 2007 reductions in S1 and S2 English and maths class sizes and…

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have no current plans to implement the research recommendations of the Class Sizes and Resources Working Group established by the last government to assess their policies.</p>

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information on finance and resources will be published in relation to each single outcome agreement by (a) it and (b) each relevant local authority and when the information will be published.

Answer · John Swinney: Each council will be required to submit an annual report around the turn of the financial year. The report will set out the progress and achievements a council has made towards meeting the national outcomes and other commitments contained in its single outcom…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the finalised single outcome agreements for each local authority will be published.

Answer · John Swinney: We aim to complete the process of agreeing single outcome agreements for 2008-09 with all 32 councils by 30 June 2008. Subject to agreement with councils, all finalised agreements will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.</p>

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have submitted draft single outcome agreements for consideration, which local authorities have done so and, in which specific areas of their responsibility.

Answer · John Swinney: Draft proposals for single outcome agreements have been submitted by all 32 councils. All councils have assessed their local priorities and proposed appropriate local outcomes and described how they will contribute to the Scottish Government''s national outco…

8 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the establishment, composition and remit of community forums.

Answer · John Swinney: Since May 2007, no guidance has been issued on the establishment, composition and remit of community forums.</p>

8 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it views the role of community forums in relation to the community engagement agenda set out in the concordat with COSLA.

Answer · John Swinney: Engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services remains of key importance in the context of the concordat with COSLA. Section 15(1) of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 requires local authorities, as facilitators, to consult and co-opera…

8 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated to each local authority to support the community engagement agenda set out in the concordat with COSLA.

Answer · John Swinney: Engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services remains of key importance in the context of the concordat with COSLA. There is no ring-fenced grant for community engagement and local authorities now have more freedom to allocate funding as they …

8 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding and guidance it has given to local authorities to support the community engagement agenda set out in the concordat with COSLA.

Answer · John Swinney: Engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services remains of key importance in the context of the concordat with COSLA. COSLA has previously endorsed the National Standards for Community Engagement as the main strategic guidance on how to engage w…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-2261 by Jim Mather on 21 February 2008, when it expects to take a decision on the transfer of regeneration activities for the Ravenscraig site from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.

Answer · Jim Mather: Public sector support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig project has to date been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise. I do not expect that situation to change.</p>

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1293 by Jim Mather on 13 July 2007, whether a request to meet the Ravenscraig development partners has been received and, if so, when such a meeting will be held.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism recently met with representatives from North Lanarkshire Council to discuss the Ravenscraig Project. At this meeting the minister agreed to host a mind-mapping session involving relevant stakeholders including t…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects Scottish Enterprise to play in phase two of the development of the Ravenscraig site.

Answer · Jim Mather: Support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site has been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise. As such, the role that will be played in phase two will be an operational matter for that organisation. I shall ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterpri…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7530 by Jim Mather on 17 December 2007, whether the Scottish Enterprise funding commitment for the Ravenscraig site includes funding for phase two of the development project.

Answer · Jim Mather: Support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site has been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise. As such, this is an operational matter for that organisation. I shall ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you in this regard.</p> <p…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7530 by Jim Mather on 17 December 2008, whether it intends to classify the project to develop the Ravenscraig site as significant at (a) local, (b) regional or (c) national level.

Answer · Jim Mather: Support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site has been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise who have classified the project as being of regional significance.</p>

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to support self-referral therapy projects for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Most behavioural change programmes for men who perpetrate domestic abuse in Scotland are delivered as part of an integrated criminal justice response to engage offenders made the subject of a probation order.</p> <p >Development work has been underway for s…

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authorities regarding the implementation of its policy on class sizes.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This Scottish Government and local government have a joint commitment to the reduction of primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18 as set out in our historic concordat. The concordat exemplifies the new relationship we have with local government base…

21 Feb 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which public body will be responsible for taking forward the development of the former Ravenscraig site.

Answer · Jim Mather: Discussions are underway about the transfer of regeneration activities between Scottish Enterprise and local authorities in line with recent reforms. No decisions have yet been made on individual projects. However, where formal Scottish Enterprise funding com…

23 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the disposal of construction site waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Governmentand the Scottish Environment Protection Agency frequently discuss a wide range ofmatters, including the disposal of construction site waste. The Woodfuel Task Forcewhich we launched in June last year, has also considered this issue. We …

17 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8259 by Richard Lochhead on 17 January 2008, how it will specifically allocate the £154 million retained portion of the Strategic Waste Fund.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In my statement on waste policyto Parliament on 24 January 2008, I indicated that we intended to allocate over £100 millionof this fund to support recycling and composting infrastructure; anaerobic digestionplants treating source segregated organic waste; hig…

14 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences are to be implemented in Scotland and, if so, who will make that decision; what further training will be given to prosecutors and sheriffs, and when the new guidelines will be implemented.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8396 on 24 January 2008. 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/w…

14 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out any further consultation in respect of the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences in the Sentencing Guidelines Council and Sentencing Advisory Panel reports.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Sentencing Guidelines Council’sproposed guideline does not apply to Scotland. Scottish judgeswill continue to be able to impose whatever sentence they consider appropriate.</p>

8 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for it not taking a decision until January 2009 on funding for the Scottish Inter Faith Council beyond 16 January 2009.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19526 on 22 January 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/Apps…