Iain Gray

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cycle threshold value is for the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests used in the COVID-19 test laboratories.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Cycle Threshold, or CT value, is the number of PCR cycles that it takes before the virus is first detected; the lower the CT value the higher the level of virus in the original sample. Each manufacturer of the PCR test will recommend a differing maximum …

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of false positive results is for COVID-19 tests on which it is basing its policies.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: It is important to note that development of polices in response to managing the spread of COVID-19 by The Scottish Government is supported by guidance from a range of experts in their relevant fields, as well as direction from UK GOV and World Health Organisa…

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an overview of the scope of its equity audit for children, as set out in its Programme for Government 2020-21.

Answer · John Swinney: The equity audit will focus on the impact of the period of school building closures and home learning, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, on children and young people particularly from a disadvantaged background. It will also look at the mitigations put in…

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of its engagement with policy stakeholders, practitioners and learners regarding the OECD-led review into the curriculum, now due to be published in June 2021.

Answer · John Swinney: The first week of National Stakeholder Engagement on the Independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence took place from 28 September to 2 October. In the course of this week of engagement the OECD Team met with: myself; The Scottish Practitioner Forum; Scott…

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the results of the equity audit for children, as set out in its Programme for Government 2020-21.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government reaffirmed its commitment to undertake the equity audit in the 2020-21 Programme for Government. Our intention is to publish a full report in December 2020.

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently agreed EU chemicals strategy; whether it will seek to adopt elements of this following Brexit and, if so, in which areas.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We welcome the publication of the EU Chemicals Strategy For Sustainability, and various accompanying documents, on 14 October 2020. We have agreed to a UK wide system for the regulation of Chemicals from 1 January 2021. We will consider the elements of the E…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce testing for COVID-19 of all student teachers prior to them taking up school placements.

Answer · John Swinney: Recent Office for National Statistics data shows no evidence of any difference between the positivity rates of teachers and other school staff relative to other worker groups of a similar age, and there is no current direct evidence that transmission in schoo…

2 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with banks regarding (a) the impact of local branch closures and (b) action on retaining banking services in local communities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I engage regularly with the banks through the Banking and Economy Forum and the Financial Services Industry Advisory Board. I have spoken recently to TSB representatives following their announcement to close 73 branches in Scotland and also wrote to them sett…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a plan to support adult learning similar to the Lifetime Skills Guarantee that has been announced by the UK Government.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Prior to the UK Government announcement on the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, a commitment was made in the Programme for Government to progress a Lifelong Learning Strategy in the coming year. Covid-19 has highlighted the challenges faced by adults and young peo…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a national retraining strategy to ensure that reforms in education and training can respond to changes in the wider economy and labour market so this can cater to the skills needs of the country.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is committed to developing the skills and aspirations of adults and young people. This commitment is evident in the investments we have made before and during this crisis. In September 2019, the Scottish Government launched Scotland’…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) additional funding it has committed and (b) plans it has to support the adult learning sector in to assist people who have been made redundant due to the COVID-19 pandemic back into education, training or employment.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government recognises that Covid 19 has had a fundamental impact on the Scottish economy and labour market and is committed to supporting people to retrain and reskill into good, sustainable jobs as the economy begins to grow again. That is why,…

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce legislation to entitle all children access to funded early learning and childcare in a deferred year, and whether it will commit to introducing this in time for the next cohort.

Answer · Maree Todd: I can confirm that the Scottish Government will bring forward legislation to this effect before the end of this parliamentary session. The legislation will require an affirmative Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) under the Children and Young People (Scotlan…

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) ministers and (b) its officials will next meet representatives from the Give Them Time campaign.

Answer · Maree Todd: My officials met with representatives from the Give Them Time campaign on 2 October 2020. I will next meet with representatives from the Give Them Time campaign on 28 October 2020.

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) its officials have had with (i) local government representatives and (ii) other partners regarding the (A) introduction of early learning and childcare for children whose school entry is deferred and (B) the incr…

Answer · Maree Todd: My officials have met, and will continue to meet, regularly with local authorities and other partners to discuss the legislation that will entitle all deferred children access to funded early learning and childcare (ELC); and the increase to 1140 hours of fun…

17 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to review the funding arrangements for student allied health professionals; how this review will be carried out, and who will conduct it.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is still considering the scope, makeup and timeline required for an effective review of the education provided to the Allied Health Professions. It is intended that the review will be led by the Scottish Government with the participati…

17 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the First Minister on 2 September 2020 (Official Report, c.27), what consideration the Scottish Government has given to the campaign, Pay Student Paramedics, which is calling for the introduction of a bursary.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As the First Minister indicated, issues relating to the funding support offered to students including those undertaking the new paramedic course will be considered as part of the Scottish Government's planned review of the education provided to the Allied Hea…

7 Sep 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to reports from school leaders that they are facing "excessive" and "unsustainable" workloads.

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the review of further and higher education support, which it announced on 4 June 2020, is due to report.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Funding Council will run their review of coherent provision and financial sustainability in three phases. The first phase is due to report in October 2020. The final phase will conclude in the course of 2021.  

31 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing monitoring it will undertake of school pupils’ general wellbeing and the impact of (a) the use of face coverings, as recommended by WHO, and (b) other COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Answer · John Swinney: We are working with partners to monitor implementation of the agreed guidance carefully. The Health and Safety Executive have carried out 500 initial telephone sample checks and schools have achieved over 80% compliance rate. The HSE will be undertaking follo…

28 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the figures for the number of hospital patients with COVID-19 on 25 August 2020, which state that there were 767 such patients in the UK, and 257 patients in Scotland, for what reason the figure for Scotland is disproportionately high for its population.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are aware that our hospitalisation figures include people who may remain in hospital for other reasons, but may no longer be suffering from Covid. We have been working with NHS Boards to identify a more meaningful public measure for this point in the pande…

14 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether courts will prioritise domestic violence cases as they reopen following the COVID-19 lockdown.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government recognise that trial delays present particular issues in the context of domestic abuse cases. That was why when initially announcing the restrictions on court business in March, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) outlined …

13 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that some schools have withdrawn water fountain access because of concerns regarding COVID-19, what additional resources it is providing to (a) education authorities and (b) the managers of grant-aided schools to support them in meeting their statutory requirement to…

Answer · John Swinney: The provision of free drinking water is a key factor to support children’s health and wellbeing as they return to school. Since 2007, education authorities and managers of grant aided schools have been under a duty to ensure that free drinking water is availa…

12 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the meeting between the SQA and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in June regarding moderation of the 2020 exam results.

Answer · John Swinney: The meeting in June was an opportunity for Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) staff to provide the Scottish Government with an overview of the awarding model for 2020. The oral updates from SQA staff covered the following topics – Higher National and Voc…

12 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) Ministers and (b) of its officials attended the meeting with the SQA staff group in June in relation to the 2020 exam results.

Answer · John Swinney: I was the only Minister to take part in this meeting in June, and I was accompanied by an official from Curriculum, Qualifications and Gaelic Division of the Learning Directorate.  

12 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any notes or documents produced for the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills following meetings with the SQA staff group in June and July 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: The meetings which took place in June and July involved updates from Scottish Qualifications Authority staff. No notes or minutes were taken from either meeting.  

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the hospitality sector should invest in temperature screening devices to tackle COVID-19 and support the reopening of businesses.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Guidance for the hospitality sector requires businesses to undertake a risk assessment to determine what measures are required to operate safely and ensure physical distancing is observed along with high standards of cleaning and hygiene. It does not stipulat…

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance and advice it has issued to the hospitality sector regarding the use of temperature screening measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Guidance for the hospitality sector requires businesses to undertake a risk assessment to determine what measures are required to operate safely and ensure physical distancing is observed along with high standards of cleaning and hygiene. It does not stipulat…

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on WHO guidance on temperature screening that describes it as “not an effective way to stop” the spread of COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Temperature checking would have a very limited effect in detecting additional infection as not all people with COVID-19 have a fever. Fever is also a common symptom for many other infections, and so the use of temperature screening could identify a large numb…

6 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all correspondence between the SQA and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding the 2020 exam moderation model.

Answer · John Swinney: I have commissioned Professor Mark Priestley to conduct an independent review looking at the events following the cancellation of the examination diet and the alternative certification model put in place by the SQA. His review will include looking at transpar…

6 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills was initially shown the SQA 2020 moderation model.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government had regular discussions with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with regards to the awarding of results in 2020 and I received oral updates on the process. I was informed of the moderation outcome on 30 July.