Parliamentary questions
Michael Russell
1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the salary costs of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is paid to (a) senior managers, (b) junior managers, (c) clerical and administrative staff, (d) professional staff, (e) other staff, and (f) part-time staff not included in the above; what the current total…
Answer · Jack McConnell: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria for the payment of performance bonuses to senior staff at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) were proposed by the SQA board and whether it approved any such criteria and payments.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Under the terms of the Scottish Qualification Authority's (SQA) Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for the development of its management and staffing structures and for human resource management…
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what dicussions it held with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) board on the proposal to include performance bonus payments in the terms and conditions packages for senior SQA staff.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Under the terms of the Scottish Qualifications Authority's (SQA) Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for the development of its management and staffing structures and for human resource managemen…
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) board wished to include in the terms and conditions packages for senior SQA staff performance bonus payments and what consultation it undertook during its consideration of this matter.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Under the terms of the Scottish Qualification Authority's (SQA) Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for the development of its management and staffing structures and for human resource management…
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in which local authority areas pupils who have taken the relevant course at school rather than elsewhere are being presented by their school for Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations in (a) Latin and (b) classical studies.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Entries for the 2001 diet are still being submitted by centres and as a result the information requested is not yet available. I have asked the Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority to write to Mr Russell once the information is available.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils will sit exams in (a) Latin and (b) classical studies at the spring 2001 examination diet.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Entries for the 2001 diet are still being submitted by centres and as a result the information requested is not yet available. I have asked the Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority to write to Mr Russell once the information is available.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of (a) Latin and (b) classical studies are currently employed in secondary schools.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The latest information available at September 1998, shows there were an estimated 61 (FTE) teachers recording Latin as their main subject qualification, and a further 107 (FTE) teachers recording Latin as a supplementary qualification, in publicly funded seco…
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools offer (a) Latin and (b) classical studies as examinable subjects.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority's Annual Statistical Report for 1999 reported that 70 centres offered Latin and 45 centres offered classical studies.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid both by (a) it and (b) the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) since 1 August 2000 to (i) Deloitte & Touche and (ii) PricewaterhouseCoopers for their work in connection with the SQA and what known or anticipated costs are still to be paid to, or billed by, each …
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive commissioned Deloitte and Touche to carry out a review into the exam results issues concerning the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and I refer Mr Russell to the answer to PQ S1W-09374 answered on 28 September 2000. The Scottish …
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Qualifications Authority has spent since 1 August 2000 on employing external consultants in (a) IT, (b) management accountancy, (c) management review and structural review, (d) internal audit, (e) external audit, and (f) other matters.
Answer · Jack McConnell: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what economic and cultural assessment it has made of the work of Dovecot Studios and what plans it has to assist the studio to prevent its closure following the withdrawal of financial support from the Bute family.
Answer · Allan Wilson: None. Support for small private enterprises and artistic or cultural projects should be sought from Local Enterprise Companies and the Scottish Arts Council respectively.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the tapestry workshop, Dovecot Studios, following the withdrawal of financial support by the Bute family.
Answer · Allan Wilson: None directly. A constituent's letter on the matter has been forwarded to me by her MSP.
10 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with St Mary's Music School about the number of places it supports at the school and what response it will make to its request for additional places in 2001 and in subsequent years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Officials have had two meetings with St Mary's Music School at which this issue was discussed. Ministers decided, after full consideration of the school's case, that an increase in the number of aided places at the school was not a priority for funding at thi…
10 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue support for St Mary's Music School as a centre of excellence in musical education.
Answer · Jack McConnell: We support the work the school does in promoting and nurturing musical excellence in our young people and plan to continue to provide it with substantial investment.
10 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it gave to St Mary's Music School in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 1999-2000, and what assistance it will give in 2001-02.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive gave St Mary's Music School £610,900 in the 1999-2000 school session through the aided places scheme. The cost of the scheme in the 2000-01 school session is estimated at £626,700 (the final claim has yet to be received and the final am…
6 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to questions S1W-12571, S1W-12983, S1W-13517 and S1W-13716 lodged on 18 January, 1 February, 16 February and 27 February 2001 respectively.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Substantive answers for these questions were provided on the following dates:<P>S1W-12571		18 April 2001<P>S1W-12983		20 April 2001<P>S1W-13517		10 April 2001<P>S1W-13716		19 April 2001
28 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11262 by Mr Jack McConnell on 1 March 2001, how many teachers took part in the New Opportunities Fund ICT training and what conclusions it has drawn or expects to draw from the 27 evaluation questionnaire responses received between 1 April 2000 and 2…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The latest take-up data provided by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) confirmed that 11,927 teachers and school librarians had signed up for the programme in Scotland at 31 December 2000. Figures from NOF are based on returns made by approved training provider…
23 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11942 by Wendy Alexander on 16 March 2001, what specific discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government, involving which ministers and on what dates, on the impact of the domestic fuel oil price increase of over 100% in the last 18 months on (a…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The impact of the recent rise in the price of domestic fuel oil has to be taken together with the effect of UK Government policy in promoting competition in the regulated energy sector, which has resulted in reductions in gas and electricity prices over the p…
23 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the answer to question S1W-11942 by Wendy Alexander on 16 March 2001 conforms with clause 1.1(d) of the Ministerial code regarding openness.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Yes.
21 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include the museum and heritage sector in any plans for compensation or financial relief from government arising out of the current foot and mouth outbreak.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-03251 on 5 April.
21 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Museum Council with regard to the impact of the current foot and mouth outbreak on visits to museums.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Museums Council is keeping the Executive informed about the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on museum visits.
21 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it is seeking from the museum and heritage sector with regard to the impact of the current foot and mouth outbreak on visitor numbers and visitor spend.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Economic Impact Group is collecting information from all sources, including museums and galleries, to enable the Executive to provide reliable estimates of the medium to long-term effects of the outbreak.
19 Mar 2001 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister, further to the answer to question S1W-14238 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 16 March 2001, what increase in funding there has been for Scottish Opera between the previously projected allocations for the years 2000-01 to 2003-04 and the amounts now allocated.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Opera will receive an additional £1.9 million this year and £1 million in each of the next three years.
16 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it has done and is doing to ensure adequate provision of disinfectant to farmers and local authorities in order to help to contain the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Initially concerns were expressed about the availability of approved disinfectants in some parts of Scotland. This prompted suppliers to publicise the availability of particular products and to inform the Scottish Executive. My officials have liaised very clo…
15 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11657 by Susan Deacon on 5 March 2001, what action it will take to reverse the increase in hospital-acquired infections in the Ayrshire and Arran Health Board area since 1996.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Information provided in response to question S1W-11657 relates to numbers of laboratory isolates of methicillin resistant <I>Staphylococcus aureus </I>(MRSA) over the last five years. MRSA is one of the causes of hospital-acquired infection (HAI).<FONT FACE="…
14 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it is of each (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special educational needs and (d) Gaelic-medium education teacher training place.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: For 2001-02, the units of teaching resource allocated by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for education are:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=425><TR><TD WIDTH="64%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Funding subject group</TD><TD WIDTH="36%" VALIGN="…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has compared any schemes it has to assist teachers to purchase computers with those available in other parts of the United Kingdom and whether it will use any knowledge gained to amend its schemes if those elsewhere have a higher take up rate.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive regularly monitors such developments in other parts of the UK. The Scottish Computers for Teachers scheme is available to all primary and secondary teachers, and the take-up rate over the first two tranches of around 18% of the teaching…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes for assisting teachers to purchase computers are presently in operation, what plans it has for continuing and developing such schemes and what take up there has been in terms of numbers and cost in the past twelve months.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Computers for Teachers scheme is operated by Learning and Teaching Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive. All GTC registered teachers in publicly funded primary and secondary schools, including publicly funded special schools and units, are eligibl…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to the Scottish Executive of teacher training for (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special education needs and (d) Gaelic medium teaching in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The following table shows the main teaching grant allocated in support of initial teacher training of primary and secondary teachers by the Scottish Higher education Funding Council (SHEFC) for academic sessions 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01:<P>Initial Teach…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received for teacher training courses in 1998, 1999 and 2000 for (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special educational needs teaching, broken down by institution.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The report (Supply of Teachers, Vol. 1 - Jan 2001) details the background to the current position on the collection of information relevant to teacher supply and outlining planned improvements to current methods. Copies of this report have been made available…