Parliamentary questions
Iain Gray
713 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) Universities Scotland regarding how students from Scotland might continue to participate in the Erasmus scheme, similar to students from Northern Ireland, and what funding it could provide toward …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s priority has always been for the whole of the UK to fully associate to the Erasmus programme. Extensive engagement with the UK Government before and after the end of the transition period has taken place both at ministerial and offic…
28 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the proposed Turing scheme, which aims to replace participation in Erasmus.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has had extensive engagement with the UK Government both at ministerial and official level, on the UK Government’s proposed domestic alternative to Erasmus, the Turing Scheme. I have regular meetings with the UK Government’s Universiti…
28 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Universities Scotland regarding the (a) future of Erasmus and (b) participation of institutions from Scotland in the proposed Turing scheme, which aims to replace participation in Erasmus.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is regularly engaging with Universities Scotland and the further and higher education sector in Scotland regarding the Erasmus programme and the Turing scheme. Further and higher education sector are acutely aware of the damaging impac…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is complying with the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 guidance regarding children and face coverings, which states that "If authorities decide to recommend mask-wearing for children, key information should be collected on a regular basis to accompany and monitor the inter…
Answer · John Swinney: We are continuing to develop and implement plans for monitoring the impacts of face coverings on children and young people. These form part of wider arrangements for ensuring an understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 and risk mitigation measures in schools …
8 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how leaving the EU will impact on East Lothian.
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Children’s Commissioner will provide oversight of the review of the appeals system to ensure that the rights of young people are upheld.
Answer · John Swinney: Professor Priestley’s review of the National Qualifications Experience in 2020 recommended that the qualifications appeals system be reviewed, and that due consideration be given to the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scotti…
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the SQA will publish any moderation methodology that will be used for the 2021 assessment process before pupils take part in it.
Answer · John Swinney: On 8 December 2020, the National Qualifications 2021 Group published details of the alternative assessment model for National 5 courses in 2020-21. The model has a focus on teacher and lecturer judgement of learner attainment evidence, supported by local and …
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact of pupils self-isolating on the fairness of assessments in 2021.
Answer · John Swinney: Analysis of the impact of pupils not in school due to a Covid-19 related reason, and fairness of assessment can be found in our published dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/profile/sg.eas.learninganalysis#!/vizhome/COVID19-SchoolsandChildcareInformation/I…
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use to determine whether the 2021 exam diet will go ahead.
Answer · John Swinney: On 7 October, I announced that National 5 exams would be cancelled in 2020-21 and I was clear that a decision on the Higher and Advanced Higher exam diet was subject to it being both safe and fair for all learners. Subsequently, on 8 December, I outlined to …
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the SQA will offer clear insight regarding how it awards grades and the equity of its processes.
Answer · John Swinney: Details of the approach to assessing National 5 courses were published by the National Qualifications 2021 Group on 8 December 2020. The alternative certification model has been developed to deliver confidence that the hard work and achievements of learners i…
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will advise pupils, teachers, parents and school staff regarding whether exams will go ahead in 2021.
Answer · John Swinney: I announced to Parliament on 7 October 2020 that National 5 exams would be cancelled in 2020-21, and on 8 December 2020 that Higher and Advanced Higher exams would also be cancelled in 2020-2021. They will be replaced by a process of teacher and lecturer judg…
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that pupils (a) who have had to self-isolate and (b) whose teachers have had to self-isolate are not disadvantaged by the 2021 assessment process.
Answer · John Swinney: We have been putting the right support in place at national level to ensure that remote learning is supported for those who need it. I do, however, recognise that some learners have lost significant amounts of teaching time in the current situation, and we ca…
30 Nov 2020 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to lengthening the school Christmas holidays, in light of COVID-19 concerns.
27 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many East Lothian planning appeals Reporters have considered and how many decisions made by the local planning authority were overturned, in each year since 2016 to date, and how these figures compared with the Scottish average.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The number of planning appeals that have been examined by a reporter, and those that have been subsequently allowed by a reporter since 2016, for East Lothian Council area and Scotland as a whole, are set out in the following table. Period East Lothian Sco…
26 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what prioritisation it will give to offering the carers of people with Down’s syndrome access to any COVID-19 vaccine, and what differences there will be in this prioritisation between the carers of children and adults with the condition.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government will prioritise vaccinations in line with the independent scientific and clinical advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) and as vaccine supply allows.
26 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates it has met Down's Syndrome Scotland in 2020, and what was discussed.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government meets regularly with Down's Syndrome Scotland to discuss matters concerning people with Down's Syndrome in Scotland. Policy officials are in regular contact with the organisations Chief Executive Eddie McConnell, recent meetings have i…
26 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it has provided to people living with Down’s syndrome, and their carers, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government has provided additional funding to Down's Syndrome Scotland to extend their helpline and services to enable them to provide additional support to people with Downs syndrome and their carers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Down Syndrome S…
26 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with Down’s syndrome, and whether the mortality risk from the virus for people with this condition is higher than that for the general population.
Answer · Clare Haughey: At the outset of the pandemic, the four Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) published a list of six groups where people would be considered to be at the highest clinical risk from COVID-19. The initial approach was based on best evidence at the time. We are commit…
26 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what prioritisation it will give to offering people with Down’s syndrome access to any COVID-19 vaccine, and what differences there will be in this prioritisation between children and adults with the condition.
Answer · Clare Haughey: People aged 16 years and over with Down’s syndrome are included in the priority list published by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on 2 nd December. They will be offered vaccination at the same time as individuals over 70. If they ar…
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people with learning disabilities will be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine in the earlier waves of its delivery.
Answer · Clare Haughey: In line with the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations prioritisation and as vaccine supply allows, we plan to vaccinate adults aged 18 to 65 years in an at-risk group, including those with severe or profound learning disabilities, in wave 2. Adul…
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people with learning disabilities should be included in the COVID-19 "at risk" category and supported to shield.
Answer · Clare Haughey: At the outset of the pandemic, the four Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) published a list of six groups where people would be considered to be at the highest clinical risk from COVID-19. The initial approach was based on best evidence at the time. We are comm…
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of studies conducted by Public Health England that have identified a higher death rate from COVID-19 among people with learning disabilities, whether it has conducted any similar studies in Scotland and, if not, what assessment it has made of (a) the number of deaths from COVID…
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government has commissioned the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory to undertake a data exercise to establish the death rate from COVID-19 among people with learning disabilities. The results of this data exercise will be published when it…
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it plans to support the Scottish Youth Parliament, YouthLink Scotland and Young Scot to deliver a “Lockdown Lowdown 2” survey on face coverings, and work with Public Health Scotland on a similar survey of children under seven, what the terms of reference are for…
Answer · John Swinney: The details of this work are as follows:Wave 2 of Lockdown Lowdown covered a wide range of questions about young people’s experiences during the pandemic. This included an open question where respondents were given the opportunity to raise any issues, such as…
25 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to the Strategic Framework Business Fund.
16 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of planning decision appeals from the East Lothian area since 2016 it has determined in favour of the developer, and how this compares with the national average.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: 52% of planning appeal decisions from the East Lothian area were determined in favour of the developer for the period 01-01-16 until 22-11-20. The national average is 46% for the same time period. Decisions are made on the planning merits of the case taking f…
16 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the General Teaching Council for Scotland to ensure that student teachers who miss more than five days' placement due to self-isolating in relation to COVID-19 will not fail courses.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in regard to student placements. The GTCS and key stakeholders produced guidance on student teacher professional placements for the period to December 2020 …
16 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of COVID-19 on the teaching workforce for the 2020-21 academic year.
Answer · John Swinney: We are acutely aware of the pressures that school staff are currently operating under as a result of the challenges of COVID-19. Staff will understandably be anxious about their own wellbeing and will be dealing with practical implications of Covid measures a…
16 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the General Teaching Council for Scotland regarding student placements in the 2020-21 academic year.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in regard to student placements. The GTCS worked in partnership with key stakeholders involved in the student placement process to agree the content of stud…
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how decisions taken regarding the 2020-21 SQA exam diet take account of advice from relevant organisations, such as Dyslexia Scotland, to comply with relevant equality legislation and public bodies duties.
Answer · John Swinney: SQA engages with a number of external stakeholder groups that work in this area. The SQA Equality and Inclusion Key Partner Group includes representation from Dyslexia Scotland, CALL Scotland, Additional Support for Learning Officer group, and LEAD Scotland. …
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in coming to a decision on the 2020-21 SQA exam diet, what consideration it gave to young adults with learning difficulties who will be sitting Higher exams.
Answer · John Swinney: As is the case every year, those candidates with learning difficulties can access a broad range of assessment arrangements. This is based on the support they receive through teaching and learning. If this cannot be achieved because of government guidelines on…