Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of (a) professionals and (b) organisations with a specialism in additional support needs who contributed to the development of the curriculum for excellence.
Answer · John Swinney: Curriculum for Excellence was developed through an open and inclusive process starting with the national debate on education in 2002, involving a wide range of stakeholders. Proposals for the new curriculum were initially developed through a number of specifi…
6 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which members of the curriculum for excellence management board have expertise in additional support needs.
Answer · John Swinney: Organisations, rather than individuals, are appointed as members of the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. They include representatives of parents, teachers, local government and national education bodies all of whom have access to a wide variety of …
3 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-07071 by Maureen Watt on 2 March 2017, how much it allocated through its agencies to the Positive Parenting Programme.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07072 on 9 March 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06679 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 February 2017, how much of the money allocated for the Transition Training Fund was spent on the 1,605 successful applicants.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since this parliamentary question was first asked, I am pleased to announce that as of the 5th March 2017, the Transition Training Fund has now supported 1,698 individual applications to the fund. SDS have advised that this equates to a spend of £4,385,438. T…
27 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06921 by Fergus Ewing on 27 February 2017, when it expects to hold a public consultation on the draft intervention area for the next phase of the rollout of superfast broadband.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A public consultation on the draft intervention area for our Reaching 100% programme will be launched once the evaluation of Open Market Review responses is complete. We expect the public consultation to launch late Spring 2017.
27 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06921 by Fergus Ewing on 27 February 2017, whether the responses to the Open Market Review will be published and, if so, when.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Responses to the Open Market Review outline the commercial investment plans of communications providers and, as such, are commercially sensitive. On that basis, responses will not be published. However, we will publicly consult on a proposed intervention area…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its officials provided support on Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, and how many hours these officials spent on this work.
Answer · Keith Brown: I wrote to Professor Lorne Crerar , chair of HIE, on 17 January 2017, asking him to lead discussions with his fellow agency chairs and interested Ministerial Review Group (MRG) members, and to set out a paper on the principles and potential outline structure …
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, that enterprise agency boards should ensure “hard alignment” with other boards.
Answer · Keith Brown: The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. It is against this backdrop that I am considering the detail of the proposals out…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what further evidence it received from each of the agencies listed in the Enterprise and Skills review between 25 October 2016 and 23 February 2017, and whether a copy will be made available to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
Answer · Keith Brown: The second phase of the Enterprise and Skills Review is focusing on implementing the decisions laid out in the report published on 25 October 2016. Nine projects have been established in order to do this, with each project team gathering information from the …
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, that Scottish Government officials would be expected to attend meetings of the proposed Strategic Board as observers.
Answer · Keith Brown: The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. It is against this backdrop that I am considering the detail of the proposals out…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the recommendations in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, whether it considers a ministerial chair or independent chair is more appropriate for the proposed Strategic Board.
Answer · Keith Brown: I am currently reflecting on the detail of the proposals outlined by Professor Crerar, the views of the Ministerial Review Group and those expressed by wider interests in taking forward the development of the Strategic Board and our aim to drive a step change…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, that the number of members on enterprise agency boards may be reduced over time.
Answer · Keith Brown: The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. I recognise the vital contribution that the four agencies make to creating a more…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the proposal in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, for enterprise agency boards to be renamed "delivery boards".
Answer · Keith Brown: The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. It is against this backdrop that I am considering the detail of the proposals out…
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what activities were carried out by its official, who was stationed at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh for three nights for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016, outside of normal working hours that could not have been carried out during normal business …
Answer · John Swinney: Given that it was the first meeting of the Council, it was important for the lead secretariat to the Council to be based at the same hotel to meet, and be available to assist, Council members over the course of the programme. This included ensuring the whole …
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh was selected as the accommodation for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016, and whether an alternative accommodation arrangement was considered.
Answer · John Swinney: The selection of hotel was driven by availability and capacity to deliver elements of the International Council of Education Advisers’ programme over the required dates.
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the (a) accommodation and (b) travel was booked for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016.
Answer · John Swinney: The accommodation for the International Council of Education Advisers was booked on 16 August 2016. Travel was booked by the Council members themselves throughout early August.
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Edinburgh was selected for the meeting of the International Council of Education Advisers in August 2016, and whether alternative locations were considered.
Answer · John Swinney: The primary purpose of the International Council of Education Advisers (ICEA) is to advise Ministers on how best to achieve excellence and equity in our Scottish education system. As such, both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister attended many parts …
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its official who was stationed at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh for three nights for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016 received (a) overtime pay, and whether this was at their normal pay rate or higher, and (b) a daily allowance.
Answer · John Swinney: The official who acted as lead secretariat for the International Council of Education Advisers did not receive overtime pay or a daily allowance during the duration of the Council meeting in August and September 2016.
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in Edinburgh in August 2016, and whether it will provide a copy of the minutes of each meeting held with the council.
Answer · John Swinney: Papers and minutes relating to meetings of the International Council of Education Advisers are published routinely on the Scottish Government’s website http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education/Schools/govscot.
21 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to improve health and safety standards in schools.
Answer · John Swinney: The health and safety of all pupils whilst at school in Scotland is of paramount importance to us. However, health and safety legislation is not devolved to Scottish Government. The Health and Safety Executive has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of the…
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the annual target for Employability Fund starts was reduced, and for what reason.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Since its launch in 2013 we have supported more than 59,000 training places through the Employability Fund, giving unemployed individuals the support they need to move towards and into work. This of course sits alongside our wider package of employability sup…
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the provision of therapeutic support for adoptive families.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Our Permanence And Care Excellence (PACE) programme is working in a number of local authority areas to determine how outcomes for Looked After Children can be improved. The issue of therapeutic support forms part of the discussions in these areas.
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for research into the link between footballers who repeatedly head the ball and developing dementia.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Researchers can apply to the Chief Scientist Office for funding. The CSO's Translational Clinical Studies Committee and the Health Improvement, Protection and Services Research Committees each meet twice per year to consider funding applications. Details of t…
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the SFA and other football organisations regarding the link between footballers who repeatedly head the ball and developing dementia, and whether it will publish this.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07245 on 8 March 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of a recent study by the UCL Institute of Neurology, which found that footballers who repeatedly head the ball could be increasing their chances of developing dementia.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07245 on 8 March 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what more it can do to support ex-footballers who have dementia.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Everyone newly diagnosed with dementia is entitled to receive a dedicated dementia post-diagnostic service, coordinated by an appropriately trained Link Worker. This is a person-centred service, helping the person with dementia and their loved ones adjust to…
15 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the SFA and other football organisations to discuss the link between footballers who repeatedly head the ball and developing dementia, and what measures to (a) address this and (b) provide support were discussed.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government and the Scottish FA are in regular contact to discuss a range of issues. This has included discussion on the issue of potential links between heading a football and dementia. We take these issues very seriously, and will work with part…
10 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06651 by Shirley-Anne Sommerville on 9 February 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how it was able to (a) keep a record of the views of Universities Scotland and Colleges Scotland and (b) inform ministers rega…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Stakeholder views can be recorded in various ways and are then conveyed to Ministers, as appropriate, by way of advice as part of normal Ministerial engagement, either orally or in writing.
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to NHS boards to ensure the implementation of new national standards for forensic examinations in sexual violence cases.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The new standards, which will be developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, will build on the good work of the National Coordinating Network for Forensic Medical Services and put beyond doubt what is expected in the delivery of care for victims. It will al…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects new national standards for forensic examinations in cases of sexual violence to be introduced.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Standards for forensic examinations in cases of sexual violence will be rolled out soon after they are developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which is expected by the end of 2017.