Parliamentary questions

Ken Macintosh

1,334 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assess the impact of any changes to the health visitor service on GP practices.

Answer · Shona Robison: We will monitor changes to NHS Board Health Visitor Services carefully. NHS boards are under a duty to ensure that patients receive immunisation services and we would not expect patient services to suffer.

22 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet COSLA and the General Teaching Council for Scotland to discuss what action may be taken to ensure that teachers are able to secure permanent teaching posts at the end of their probationary years.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Vacancies for teaching posts occur throughout the year and it would be unrealistic to expect every post probation teacher to be in post each August. That said it is important that there is a broad balance between demand and supply. If it is evident that there…

15 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how classroom assistants will play a role in reducing class sizes.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We highly value the work undertaken by classroom assistants. However, they are not substitutes for teachers and cannot therefore play a role in reducing class sizes.

8 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Teaching Induction Scheme places in August 2008 will require to be funded by Scottish Ministers, showing how these compare with the number and percentage of fully funded places in 2007.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is too early to say how many teaching posts will require to be funded by the Scottish Government for the 2008-09 induction scheme. This will only be determined after the summer when it is known how many students failed to complete their initial teacher edu…

8 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places each local authority has agreed to make available for newly qualified teachers entering the Teaching Induction Scheme in 2008, broken down by (a) primary and (b) secondary sector.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The table provides numbers of places offered by Scottish local authorities for the 2008-09 teacher induction scheme. The following table also includes offers made by authorities to accommodate probationers who would be wholly Government funded. <table b…

8 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places each local authority has been asked to provide for newly qualified teachers entering the Teaching Induction Scheme in 2008, broken down by (a) primary and (b) secondary sector.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Local authorities were invited to submit a proforma identifying all posts suitable for probationers on the scheme. There was no absolute requirement on local authorities to offer specific numbers of places. The numbers of places offered are provided, by local…

8 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that fingerprint witness Allan Bayle should be called to give evidence before the McKie inquiry and if so whether his previous record in giving evidence in other cases should be made available.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will give every assistance to the inquiry, but we will not be advising on which witnesses to call, nor on what questions to ask. This is an independent inquiry, the conduct of which is properly a matter for its chairman. In Lord Justic…

6 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to replace or extend the Scottish Credit Union Assistance Fund.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Credit Union Assistance Fund closed for applications in December 2007. The Scottish Government have committed £93 million direct investment by our third sector division over 2008-11. This will build capacity and sustainability in the third sector…

6 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to replace or extend the Scottish Credit Union SGEI (Service of General Economic Interest) Fund

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Credit Union SGEI (Service of General Economic Interest) Fund closed for applications in September 2006, however, compensatory payments will be made to credit unions until the end of financial year 2008-09. The Scottish Government have c…

6 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it provides to credit unions.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government have committed £93 million direct investment by our third sector division over 2008-11. This will build capacity and sustainability in the third sector including credit unions. This underlines our commitment to the development…

7 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are taking steps to ensure that there are sufficient teaching posts to meet the increased numbers of newly qualified teachers.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities as employers. All student teachers in publicly funded places are guaranteed a one-year teaching post on the teacher induction scheme. This affords them the opportunity to reach full registration in …

7 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have met COSLA and the General Teaching Council Scotland since June 2007 to discuss job prospects for newly qualified teachers and, if so, how many times.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Ministers meet COSLA regularly to discuss a number of issues. The Cabinet Secretary has also met the Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council for Scotland on one occasion to discuss matters of mutual interest.

7 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress ministers have made in ensuring that this year’s newly qualified teachers are not lost to the profession.

Answer · Maureen Watt: All student teachers in publicly funded places are guaranteed a one-year teaching post on the teacher induction scheme. This affords them the opportunity to reach full registration in one school year. We have also signed a concordat with local government that…

7 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have met COSLA since June 2007 to discuss how to ensure that there are sufficient teaching posts to secure employment for newly qualified teachers.

Answer · Maureen Watt: All student teachers in publicly funded places are guaranteed a one-year teaching post on the teacher induction scheme. This affords them the opportunity to reach full registration in one school year. Ministers meet representatives of COSLA on a regular basis…

7 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers have met COSLA to discuss teacher numbers since June 2007.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Ministers meet COSLA regularly to discuss a number of issues.

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can act to defer the date of registration for Scottish denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians from 31 July 2008 until it is possible for them to meet the education and training requirements required for registration in Scotland and, if so, whether it has…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11641 on 22 April 2008. The legislation requiring these practitioners to register with the General Dental Council was laid before the Scottish Parliament as well as Westminster. There are no plans for any chang…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will insist that denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians have to register with the General Dental Council by 31 July 2008, given that the course allowing them to do so is not yet available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is already a legal requirement, and has been since July 2006, that clinical dental technicians (also known as denturists), who fit and make dentures, must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) in order to practise. Some have already registere…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers will make a copy of the draft course outline for the course of education and training to help secure the registration of denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians publicly available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11637 on 18 April 2008. 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/webap…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have insisted that denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians are consulted in designing a course of education and training to help secure their registration and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11638 on 18 April 2008. 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/webap…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians have been consulted in designing a course of education and training to help secure their registration.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Responsibility for the UK regulation, including registration, of dental technicians and clinical dental technicians lies with the General Dental Council (GDC). It is the GDC who determines the appropriate UK standard of proficiency required for a person to pr…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in conjunction with the Edinburgh Dental Institute and the General Dental Council in designing a course of education and training to help secure the registration of denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since July 2006, clinical dental technicians have been required to register with the GDC in order to practise. The Edinburgh Dental Institute has submitted a course curriculum to the General Dental Council (GDC) for approval by their education commit…

13 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average salary is for primary school deputy headteachers, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collated centrally. All depute head teacher posts are allocated a specific salary point on the common pay spine for both head teachers and deputes. Salaries for depute head teachers in all sectors of school education are determined on …

13 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average salary is for primary school headteachers, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collated centrally. All head teacher posts are allocated a specific salary point on the common pay spine for both head teachers and deputes. Salaries for head teachers in all sectors of school education are determined on an individual …

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that educational psychologists should be regulated by the Health Professions Council.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The White Paper Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, published in February 2007 and endorsed by all four UK countries, confirmed that, with the exception of the new pharmacy regulator, no ne…

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will submit a response to the consultation on the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No 2 Order 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. That would not be appropriate as this is a joint consultation issued on behalf of the Scottish Government and the UK Government.

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been done in Scotland to ensure that psychologists, including educational psychologists, are aware of the consultation paper on the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No 2 Order 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Department of Health in England issued this consultation paper across the UK, including on behalf of the Scottish Government. To supplement the Department of Health lists, we provided lists of Scottish consultees, including NHS boards, local authorities, …

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is making available to amateur rugby clubs to support greater participation in sport.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10359 on 4 March 2008. 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://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support amateur rugby clubs in encouraging more young people to actively participate in sport.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10358 on 4 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the funding available to amateur rugby clubs.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Sportscotland grant to the Scottish Rugby Union for 2007-08 was £752,500. This is a significant investment in the development of the amateur game in Scotland. Sportscotland's investment is made on the basis of a development plan for the sport which is the res…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support amateur rugby clubs.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: All Scottish Government funding for sport is routed through sportscotland and amateur rugby clubs can apply for funding from the various programmes sportscotland operates.