Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

12 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average percentage is of the total budget costs of schools, including wages and infrastructure, of which headteachers in state secondary schools have discretion over the allocation.

Answer · Euan Robson: Under Devolved School Management (DSM) arrangements, an education authority passes control of a proportion of a school's budget to the Headteacher through a detailed scheme which lays out clear spending requirements. Each local authority operates its own DSM …

6 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it envisages will become specialist schools during the current session of the Parliament.

Answer · Euan Robson: It is not possible to makesuch a prediction.</p>

6 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many state secondary schools have become specialist schools since 1999.

Answer · Euan Robson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9606 on 3 August 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sc…

6 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of all specialist schools, detailing their area of expertise.

Answer · Euan Robson: No central list is kept ofschools which may be designated by an education authority, or by the schoolitself, as “specialist”. However, the following local authority managed schoolsare in receipt of support funding, via the education authority, either on anann…

29 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8798 by Peter Peacock on 18 June 2004, whether the figures for gross local authority revenue expenditure per pupil on secondary education in 2002-03 include figures for additional sources of state funding available to schools, such as funds for IT pr…

Answer · Euan Robson: The figures for gross local authority revenue expenditure per pupil on secondary education in 2002-03 given in the answer to question S2W-8798 on 18 June 2004,represent expenditure, however financed, including additional state funding.</p><p>All answers to wr…

28 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the combined total local authority and Executive expenditure is per pupil in state primary schools for (a) each local authority area and (b) Scotland as a whole in the current financial year.

Answer · Euan Robson: Gross local authority revenue expenditure per pupil on primary education in 2002-03, the latest year for which figures are available, is given in the following table.</p><p>Executive expenditure on education is generally channelled through local authorities a…

28 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital education expenditure was per pupil in state (a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools in (i) 2002-03 and (ii) 2003-04.

Answer · Euan Robson: Information collected on capital expenditure is not broken down into primary or secondary education. However, the total capital expenditure figure for primary and secondary education in Scotland in 2002-03 was £143.6 million. Using school roll data from the S…

28 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8798 by Peter Peacock on 18 June 2004, whether the figures for gross local authority expenditure per pupil on secondary education in 2002-03 include capital expenditure.

Answer · Euan Robson: The figures for gross local authority revenue expenditure per pupil on secondary education in 2002-2003, in the answer to question S2W-8798 do not include capital expenditure.</p><p>All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliamen…

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific targets it has set for schools since 1999.

Answer · Euan Robson: Since 1999, the Executive has set out national targets for schools in its Programme for Government documents <i>Making it Work Together</i> and <i>Working Together for Scotland</i>, its spending proposals <i>Making a Difference for Scotland</i> and <i>Buildin…

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much, and what percentage, of its Education Department's budget has been spent on administrative costs in each of the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Education Department’s budget covers programme expenditure only. Its administration costs are funded through the Executive’s Administration Budget and so it would be misleading to provide percentage figures. The Education Department’s expenditure on admin…

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of S2 pupils in state secondary schools reach the required standards in (a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science.

Answer · Euan Robson: The information requested for (a) and (b) can be found in Table 8 of the Statistical Publication Notice <i>5-14 Attainment in Publicly Funded Schools 2002-03 (by June 2003)</i> published by the Scottish Executive on 9 December 2003. Most pupils are expected t…

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children leave primary school in the state sector having attained the required level of competency in (a) arithmetic, (b) reading and (c) writing.

Answer · Euan Robson: The information requested can be found in Table 6 of the Statistical Publication Notice <i>5-14 Attainment in Publicly Funded Schools 2002/03 (by June 2003)</i> published by the Scottish Executive on 9 December 2003. Most pupils are expected to attain at leas…

7 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current combined local authority and Executive expenditure per pupil in state secondary schools is in (a) each local authority and (b) Scotland.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Gross local authority revenue expenditure per pupil on secondary education in 2002-03, the latest year for which figures are available, is given in the following table.</p><p>Executive expenditure on education is generally channelled through local authorities…

12 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it now estimates that the code of practice relating to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill will be consulted on and implemented.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Subject to the Education(Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill progressing successfully through the Scottish Parliament, we will involve stakeholders in drafting a code of practice by autumn2004. The draft code will be the subject of wide consultat…

12 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will invite further bids for grant funding for advocacy services for children with additional support needs and their families; what the criteria will be for considering such bids; what the arrangements for funding will be, and what level of funding will be granted.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We will make available£250,000 in 2005-06 for advocacy services for parents of children with additionalsupport needs, and for young people with such needs. We will set out criteriaand arrangements for funding and invite expressions of interest fromorganisatio…

3 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the up-to-date position is on Concorde coming to the Museum of Flight.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is anoperational matter for the National Museums of Scotland who made an announcement on 26 February about preparationsfor Concorde’s journey by sea and road from Heathrow to the Museum of Flight.</p><p>The Museumsexpect that Concorde’s journey will star…

12 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made since the Stage 1 debate on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill on which organisations it will fund to provide advocacy services for children and parents under the Bill.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5990 on 2 March 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations will receive funding from the unified voluntary sector funds and what the nature is of the projects involved.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Children, Young Peopleand Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund is available to assist nationalvoluntary organisations and innovative local projects working with children,young people and families. A copy of the grant guide, including priorities forthe f…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5407 by Peter Peacock on 19 January 2004, whether it has not yet established how many of those who currently have a record of needs will not qualify for a co-ordinated support plan under the proposed Educational (Additional Support for Learning) (Sco…

Answer · Peter Peacock: Until the implementation of the new system, when each and every child with a record of needs will beconsidered for a co-ordinated support plan, the exact number of those currentlywith a record of needs, but who will not receive a co-ordinated support plan,can…

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a table showing the types of (a) learning and (b) physical disability of those pupils who currently have a record of needs but will not be eligible for a co-ordinated support plan under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Eligibility for a co-ordinatedsupport plan will depend on the circumstances and needs of the individual childor young person, not just on the type of learning or physical disability he/shemay have. Guidance on eligibility will be given in the code of practice…

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a table or tables listing the identifiable public expenditure per capita, for each year in which figures are available, broken down into (a) housing, (b) health, (c) education, (d) tourism, (e) transport, (f) roads, (g) local government, (h) fire and emergency serv…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isgiven in Tables 8.2-8.6 of <i>Public Expenditure, Statistical Analyses 2003 </i>publishedby The Stationery Office in December 2003, a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 30566). The publication detail…

12 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that, in any negotiations on teachers' working conditions, the views of members of the Headteachers' Association of Scotland are adequately and fairly taken into account.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Working conditions forteachers are negotiated through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers(SNCT). The make-up of the teachers’ side of the SNCT is a matter for theteachers’ panel, which is made up of the various teachers’ organisations. Theheadteac…

12 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns in respect of the impact of the withdrawal of the Headteachers' Association of Scotland (HAS) from the Teachers' Panel of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).

Answer · Peter Peacock: We regret that theHeadteachers Association have felt it necessary to withdraw from the teacher’spanel. This is however a matter for the HAS and their membership. We remaincommitted to supporting a place for HAS on the SNCT.</p>

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a table showing how many qualified social workers there were in each of the last 12 years.

Answer · Euan Robson: Information prior to 1997 isnot held centrally.</p><p>ScottishLocal Authority Social Work Services</p><p>SocialWorkers (WTE) by Year</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Social Wor…

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a table showing how many social workers retired in each of the last 12 years and how many retired early.

Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a table showing how many social work students trained at Scottish institutions in each of the last 12 years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive is happy topublish such a table, although this information is only available for an eightyear period, from academic years 19994-95 to 2001-02. (The way in which data is stored does not allow us tocarry out the detailed analysis required by this …

6 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that local government elections are not held on the same day as Scottish Parliament elections to avoid the possible complication of two differing systems of election being used on the same day.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The next local governmentelections are due to take place on the same day as the next election to the Scottish Parliament. Issues relating to the practical implementation of the singletransferable vote system for local government elections are currently beingc…

6 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Concorde will be conveyed to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune and within what timescale.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operationalmatter for the National Museums of Scotland.</p>

29 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2994 by Ms Margaret Curran on 21 October 2003, why it did not provide the information sought in that question in graph form as requested, a format it has previously used in answer to a question requesting comparison between Scottish, English and Wels…

Answer · Margaret Curran: While the Scottish Executive will ensure that any information provided is presented in acomprehensible manner, this does not imply a responsibility to provide information in a particular format as part of a response to a parliamentary question.The information…

22 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is with regard to national testing and league tables.

Answer · Euan Robson: We are currently consulting on proposed changes to thesystem of national testing for pupils aged between 5 and 14, including replacingexisting national test materials with a web-based national assessment bank and replacingthe current 5-14 survey with a more r…