Parliamentary questions

Michael Russell

1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it is making with the Roman Catholic Church to ensure that continuing professional development for teachers includes optional elements of specific relevance to teachers in Catholic schools.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Consultation on a framework for teachers' continuing professional development will be as wide as possible and will take in all stakeholders, including the Catholic Education Commission.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>The Catholic Education Commission will also b…

1 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what powers the Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture directed the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) to reserve #1 million as a special grant to Scottish Opera from the additional resources given to the SAC.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I made no direction. Following discussions with the Scottish Arts Council, they agreed to earmark an additional £1 million per year for Scottish Opera, subject to consideration of a revised business plan from the company.

1 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions will apply to the release of #1 million for Scottish Opera from the additional resources allocated to the Scottish Arts Council.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Any additional funding for Scottish Opera will be to enable the company to continue to undertake a programme of high quality work throughout Scotland and build on its successful outreach and educational work. Detailed conditions of grant will be a matter for …

1 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many school attendance officers or other staff, whose responsibilities include following up cases of truancy and recommending prosecution or any other further action, were employed by each local authority as of 1 May 1997, 1 May 1999 and 1 May 2000.

Answer · Jack McConnell: This information is not collected centrally.<P>However discipline-related issues are a top priority for me. The Discipline Task Group is looking at the role and remit of staff with responsibility for attendance.

1 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been brought since May 2000 against parents whose children were absent from school without authorisation, how many such prosecutions were successful and what sentences have been imposed by the courts after any such convictions.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available from the information held centrally. The statistical data held by Scottish Executive Justice Department (SEJD) on the outcome of court proceedings are based on information provided by police records offices. Prosecut…

1 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to resolve any difficulty experienced with regard to the scheduling of cases in the Sheriff Court, Glasgow, concerning prosecution of parents whose children are absent from school without authorisation.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Programming of cases in the Sheriff Court is a matter for the Sheriff Principal. However, the Scottish Executive has not been made aware of any scheduling difficulties in Glasgow Sheriff Court in regard to prosecutions of parents whose children are absent fro…

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to remedy any shortage of Gaelic teachers.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive recent guidance to the Scottish Higher Education Council (SHEFC) on initial teacher education draws the council's attention to the fact that the supply of Gaelic-medium teachers continues to be a priority for Scottish Ministers. SHEFC h…

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students starting a post graduate certificate in education course this year will be qualified Gaelic medium teachers on completion.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Teacher education institutions are currently in the process of selection of students for entry to initial teacher education courses in academic session 2001-02. It is, therefore, not known at this time how many students starting a postgraduate certificate in …

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new teachers capable of teaching in Gaelic medium schools are expected to qualify this year and how many existing Gaelic medium teachers are expected to retire.

Answer · Jack McConnell: There are 15 students who may qualify as Gaelic-medium teachers this year. No information is held centrally on existing Gaelic-medium teachers who are expected to retire.

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers Gaelic medium units will be short of in (a) August 2001 and (b) August 2002.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12961.

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Gaelic medium units are currently short of teachers.

Answer · Jack McConnell: No information is currently collected centrally on teacher vacancies in Gaelic-medium units. As you are aware I have sent a report on the supply of teachers to the Convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee detailing the background to the current …

18 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what working arrangements it is planning with the British Council to take advantage of the plans for eight regional offices in Germany to ensure that its policy of building relationships with the German lander can be progressed.

18 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any contribution to the costs of any of the new British Council offices in Germany in the light of its policy of building relationships with the German lander.

Answer · Jack McConnell: No. The nature and funding of the British Council's office network in Germany is a matter for the council, who have assured me that programme expenditure has not been reduced and that activity will continue at current levels.

18 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the British Council regarding its proposals for eight smaller offices in Germany to replace the present structure in the light of its policy of building relationships with the German lander.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The development of Scottish Executive links with the German länder will not be affected by the structure of the network of British Council offices in Germany.

16 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the total cost of bringing Scotland's school buildings up to an acceptable standard.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The overall management of their school building stock is a matter for individual education authorities. Detailed consistent information of the kind requested is not available centrally. We will be discussing with local authority representatives aspects of sch…

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer parliamentary question S1W-11696 regarding the age profiles of teachers.

Answer · Jack McConnell: A report has been sent to the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee detailing the background to the current position on the collection of information relevant to teacher supply and outlining planned improvements to current methods. Copies of …

3 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will apply to the implementation of the recommendations of the McCrone Committee report.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The budget for 2001-02 will be laid before the Parliament in the next week or so. The budget will contain funding for teachers' pay. A draft budget for 2002-03 will be presented to Parliament later in the year.

22 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Lord Advocate on 29 November 2000 (Official Report, col. 413) on the Chhokar case, whether the Crown Office will be providing support staff to Sir Anthony Campbell and, if so, under whose control they will be during the inquiry.

Answer · Colin Boyd: A member of legal staff from Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service has been appointed on secondment to act as Secretary to the inquiry by Sir Anthony Campbell. During the inquiry this member of staff will be subject to the direction and control of Si…

22 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Lord Advocate on 29 November 2000 (Official Report, col. 413) on the Chhokar case, whether Sir Anthony Campbell will appoint his own staff and choose which senior Scottish counsel are to assist him with the inquiry.

Answer · Colin Boyd: A member of legal staff from Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service has been appointed on secondment to act as Secretary to the inquiry by Sir Anthony Campbell. This appointment was by the Crown Agent. During the inquiry this member of staff will be s…