Ken Macintosh

15 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with local authorities to ensure that teacher supply lists are open to everyone to apply.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Code of Practice on the Use of Temporary Contracts for Teachers, developed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, of which the Scottish Government is a member, states that employees on temporary contracts should not be treated any less favour…

9 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered including geography in the science baccalaureate.

Answer · Michael Russell: During the development of the Scottish science baccalaureate, my predecessor considered whether geography should be part of the baccalaureate and decided that it should not. However, geography can contribute to the Interdisciplinary Project and the SQA was as…

9 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in developing a geography baccalaureate.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32278 on 17 March 2010. 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/Apps2/…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the revised answer to question S3W-30785 by Michael Russell on 24 February 2010, whether it has a view on whether the Moray House School of Education campus should be maintained.

Answer · Michael Russell : I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31940 on 8 March 2010. 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/Apps2/B…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the revised answer to question S3W-30785 by Michael Russell on 24 February 2010, what reassurance it can give as to the future of the Moray House School of Education campus.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for the University of Edinburgh, not Scottish Ministers.</p>

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the revised answer to question S3W-30785 by Michael Russell on 24 February 2010, whether it wishes to revise its answer to question S3W-30786 on the future of the Jordanhill campus.

Answer · Michael Russell: No.</p>

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in funding for initial teacher training in 2011-12 will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31925 on 3 March 2010. 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/apps2/b…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in funding for initial teacher training in 2010-11 will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: The reduction in funding for initial teacher education in 2010-11 will be £12 million.</p>

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) places in 2011-12 will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31925 on 3 March 2010. 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/apps2/b…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) places in 2010-11 will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31924 on 3 March 2010. 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/apps2/b…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in initial teacher training places in 2011-12 will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government carries out an annual teacher workforce planning exercise each autumn that underpins advice to the Scottish Funding Council on intakes to initial teacher education courses. Decisions relating to 2011-12 will made after that exercise.</…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in initial teacher training places in 2010-11 will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: The reduction in initial teacher training places in 2010-11 can be found at table 3 of the Scottish Funding Council''s Circular dated 8 February which announced intake targets for the controlled subjects in higher education institutions for academic year 2010…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of how much funding awarded to teacher training institutions is retained by those institutions.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31921 on 3 March 2010. 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/Apps2/B…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of funding awarded to teacher training institutions being used for other purposes in the university to which the institution belongs.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31921 on 3 March 2010. 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/Apps2/B…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding awarded by the Scottish Funding Council to teacher training institutions is earmarked for teacher training.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Funding Council does not require institutions to allocate funding internally using the same formula as the council has used to determine their grants for teaching. This is a matter for institutions to decide in light of their particular circumsta…

17 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have carried out an assessment of the impact on Scottish cultural life of the University of Strathclyde ending its BA in Applied Music course.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31810 on 11 March 2010. 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/Apps2/…

17 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence or other communication Scottish ministers have had with the University of Strathclyde regarding the university’s plans to end its BA in Applied Music course.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31810 on 11 March 2010. 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/Apps2/…

17 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers, particularly the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and the Minister for Culture and External Affairs, are aware of plans by the University of Strathclyde to end its BA in Applied Music course.

Answer · Michael Russell: Both ministers are aware. However, academic provision at the University of Strathclyde is a matter for the university, not Scottish ministers.</p>

11 Feb 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage children to swim.

Answer · Shona Robison: This government firmly believes it is important that our young people have the opportunity to take part in swimming. We have increased investment into Scottish Swimming from £818,000 in 2007-08 to £1.3 million in 2010-11. The biggest ever single investment by…

4 Feb 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local newspapers and the cultural contribution that they make to Scotland’s communities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government values the contribution made by local newspapers to Scotland''s communities and is committed to helping them survive and prosper in a time of immense change for the industry.</p> <p >We are paying close attention to the responses we …

1 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what process or procedures need to be followed to allow the drug, low dose naltrexone (LDN), to be offered more widely to people with multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31365 on 24 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…

1 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obstacles there are to the drug, low dose naltrexone (LDN), being offered more widely to people with multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31365 on 24 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…

1 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps ministers are taking to make the drug, low dose naltrexone (LDN), available to people with multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: Licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has advised that low dose naltrexone (LDN) is not licensed for use in the UK for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.</p> …

27 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-30829, S3W-30830, S3W-30831 and S3W-30832 by Adam Ingram on 26 January 2010, whether ministers are aware of the support that organisations such as Independent Special Education Advice give parents and children with additional support needs over the…

Answer · Adam Ingram: Yes.</p>

27 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-30829, S3W-30830, S3W-30831 and S3W-30832 by Adam Ingram on 26 January 2010, what additional support needs advocacy service will be available to parents between July 2010 and the start of the autumn term.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Ministers are still to decide in the light of proposals which are currently being developed for the new national advocacy service to support parents and young people in Tribunal proceedings under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act …

26 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to support outdoor education and, in particular, to sustain facilities such as Castle Toward.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our vision for Scotland is that our children and young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. The outdoor environment has massive potential to help us achieve this vision. That is why we are inv…

26 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) correspondence and (b) discussions ministers have had with Argyll and Bute Council regarding the proposed closure of Castle Toward.

Answer · Michael Russell: Ministers have had no correspondence or discussions with Argyll and Bute about the proposed closure of Castle Toward. I refer the member to the question to S3W-31095 on 4 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parli…

26 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prevent the closure of Castle Toward as a residential facility for outdoor pursuits and courses in the expressive arts.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is for Argyll and Bute Council to consider what the best interests and actions are in relation to Castle Toward. I understand that the council and Actual Reality, the operator, have held positive discussions about the reopening of the facility and its futu…

26 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans ministers have to replace the Graduates for Business scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is spending £3.5 million through the Scottish Funding Council in this academic year to support skills and employability initiatives focused on work-related learning and placements; entrepreneurship, and workforce development. </p> <p …

26 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many student places will be lost as a result of the decision to withdraw the Graduates for Business scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: Graduates have participated in a total of 266 projects under the Graduates for Business scheme over the past two years, contributing to the improved performance of a range of Scottish businesses. Scottish Enterprise has confirmed that it plans to have an alte…