Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop (a) medical facilities and (b) training for professionals to support victims of sexual violence in (i) Shetland and (ii) Orkney.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Chief Executive for NHS Scotland has made it clear to the Chief Executives of all NHS Boards that this is a Scottish Government priority and highlighted the need to offer appropriate services for victims of sexual crime in each Health Board areas. The Sc…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on children's education of the number of principal teachers employed by local authorities being its lowest since 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The management structure in schools, including the appointment of Principal Teachers, is a matter for individual local authorities to determine in line with their local needs and priorities. The latest summary statistics for Schools in Scotland published in D…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the employment rate of probationer teachers has been in each year since 2007, broken down by teachers who found (a) permanent, (b) temporary, (c) full-time and (d) part-time teaching positions.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of probationer teachers in permanent and temporary, full and part time positions from 2009-10 to 2015-16 can be found in table 3.5 of Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No: 7-2016 (page 14 in the .pdf version). This can be accessed at the …
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) certified nursery teachers, (b) primary school teachers, (c) secondary school teachers and (d) primary classroom assistants are employed in the 20% Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) (i) most deprived and (ii) least dep…
Answer · John Swinney: The latest statistics available, for September 2016, show: (a) Data is not collected for nursery settings specifically, but for all centres providing the funded entitlement of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). There are 314 teachers (151 FTE) working wit…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following reports that an annual average 42.3% of teachers on their first year of probation since 2007 do not progress on the first step on the qualified teacher pay scale, what information it holds on (a) the paths that they follow post-probation and (b) the percentage of those who fin…
Answer · John Swinney: (a) We do not hold information on the paths that probationers take if they do not become teachers. (b) The number of probationer teachers in permanent and temporary, full and part time positions from 2009-10 to 2015-16 can be found in table 3.5 of Summary St…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, Global Gaps by the Sutton Trust, which suggests that able students perform worse in mathematics than in most other industrialised countries, what it considers the reason is for this decline since 2006.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the Global Gaps report which adds to our understanding of some of the challenges we want to address in our determination to raise attainment for all and close the attainment gap in our education outcomes. The report is clear …
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, Global Gaps by the Sutton Trust, which suggests that the scores of the highest achieving pupils in science have seen large declines since 2006, whether it considers that this decline could have been prevented in the last decade.
Answer · John Swinney: The Global Gaps report identifies a small decline in performance among the highest performing science pupils in Scotland in 2015. The performance remains in line with OECD average and we remain committed to ensuring excellence in science education as part of …
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many interpreters were employed or contracted through its Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Framework Agreement in each year since 2010.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The framework is currently used by a number of public bodies, and the specific number of interpreters employed or contracted is not held centrally. Central data focusses on the number of assignments, some of which may deploy multiple interpreters.
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, Global Gaps by the Sutton Trust, which suggests that the mathematics gap between the highest performing children from advantaged and disadvantaged homes is around two years and eight months of schooling, for what reason it has not closed this gap.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the Global Gaps report which adds to our understanding of some of the challenges we want to address in our determination to raise attainment for all and close the attainment gap in our education outcomes. Curriculum for Excel…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06653 by Derek Mackay on 27 January 2017, for what percentage of meetings it does not hold minutes; what figure this represents and what the reasons are for this.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not record which meetings are minuted and which are not, nor does it record the reasons for this decision. Officials are encouraged to carefully consider the need for an official record of the meetings they convene. It is at the …
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provided (a) directly and (b) through its agencies for the introduction of the positive parenting programme, Triple P.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Triple P stands for Positive Parenting Programme The Scottish Government provides funding for NHS Education Scotland to roll out the Psychology of Parenting Project (PoPP). The Level four Triple P is one of a number of interventions used in PoPP.
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what will replace the positive parenting programme, Triple P, in each (a) local authority and (b) NHS board area.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Triple P stands for Positive Parenting Programme NHS Education Scotland is continuing to roll out the Psychology of Parenting Project (PoPP) It is the responsibility of local agencies to decide what interventions are best suited to their local population. …
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was allocated to each (a) local authority and (b) NHS board to deliver the positive parenting programme, Triple P, in each year since 2010-11.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The following funding has been allocated to NHS Education for Scotland to support national roll-out of high quality evidence based parenting programmes for families with young children who have elevated levels of behaviour problems. Funding supports the natio…
6 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish contract notices for the procurement of infrastructure to support the next phase of the superfast broadband rollout programme.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We expect to issue an Invitation to Tender in relation to our Reaching 100% programme later this year. However, this is dependent on a number of factors, including the accuracy of information provided in response to the Open Market Review and the duration of …
6 Feb 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that almost half of head teachers consider that there is a lack of teaching staff in schools.
3 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Skills Development Scotland is identifying learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to carry out recommendation 17 of the final report of the Commission On Widening Access, A Blueprint for Fairness.
Answer · John Swinney: The information sharing legislation within the post-16 education act allows frontline practitioners to identify individuals who require additional support on a case by case basis. This means that the school share appropriate information with partners, such as…
3 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to schools to appoint a lead person to coordinate links with fair access programmes and provide direction to information regarding student support and the higher education admissions process, as set out at recommendation 17 of the final report of the Commi…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Commission on Widening Access recommended that schools identify a lead person to coordinate links with fair access programmes. This role could be fulfilled by an existing member of staff and would not necessarily require a new appointment. Scottish Gove…
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to alternative pupil equity funding allocation methods for rural and island communities.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06840 on 17 February 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/parliamentarybusines…
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with island councils to discuss allocation of the Pupil Equity Fund, and what suggestions it received from them.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government continues to engage with individual authorities, the Association of Directors of Education (ADES) and local government bodies such as COSLA and SOLACE, both directly and through the Scottish Attainment Challenge Advisory Group, to disc…
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns by the Shetland Islands Council Education and Families Committee that the attainment fund failed to take into account pupils with "rural disadvantage”, what it is doing to make allocation of the fund fairer to rural communities.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Ministers have committed, through the '2017 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for Scottish Education', which is available at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/12/8072, to develop a range of national programmes to further extend …
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06407 by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017, whether it has received any plans from local authorities setting out how they plan to allocate the additional places in their areas.
Answer · Mark McDonald: We are currently working closely with local authorities to progress this commitment, including on the development of supporting plans. Following discussion with local authorities we will set a deadline for plans to be submitted.
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06405 by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017, whether it will provide the figures that were requested.
Answer · Mark McDonald: As I highlighted in the response to question S5W-06405 to ensure that as many children as possible benefit from this commitment local authorities will have flexibility to draw on their local data to prioritise how they allocate their additional graduates. We…
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Transition Training Fund, and how many (a) have been approved, (b) have been rejected and (c) are awaiting a decision.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since the Transition Training Fund was launched on the 1 February 2016, the latest figures show that more than 1600 people have had applications approved from the fund. This is in addition to procurement contracts currently estimated to create employment oppo…
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons applications to the Transition Training Fund can be rejected.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The downturn in the oil and gas sector has presented a unique set of challenges given the diverse skills and company base that have been affected. The Transition Training Fund has been designed to be a flexible and dynamic response to these challenges as they…
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is for applicants to the Transition Training Fund to be notified of a decision regarding their application.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Skills Development Scotland have advised that, as of week commencing 20 February, the average time for applicants to the Transition Training Fund to be notified of a decision regarding their application is 33 days. However, these timescales are often determin…
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06038 by John Swinney on 18 January 2017, for what reason no minutes of the meetings are held; whether informal minutes or notes where taken and if (a) so, whether it will publish these and (b) not, how it was able to (i) keep a record of the views …
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As part of on-going stakeholder engagement, the Scottish Government has regular informal meetings with organisations. These are not routinely minuted.
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it produces to officials regarding keeping records of meetings, and under what circumstances it considers that a meeting will require (a) a formal minute, (b) an informal minute, (c) a formal note, (d) an informal note and (e) no formal or informal record to be taken.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government Intranet contains useful guidance and a template on how to structure formal/informal minutes. Responsibility for what minutes, notes or recording, if any, should be taken at a meeting will be made at the discretion of the Chair of the…
26 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the government how it will alleviate the reported shortfall in employment in the road haulage industry in (a) the short-term to attract aspiring drivers and (b) the long-term to address issues such as training, insurance and the impact of Brexit on the industry.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government support, for both employers and people looking to work in the industry, is provided by Skills Development Scotland. Funding for Modern Apprenticeship training in Freight Logistics and Driving Goods Vehicles is available. Support is availa…
26 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Work Able Scotland’s funding will come from the Apprenticeship Levy.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Levy is introduced by UK Government without prior consultation lines. The Scottish Government settlement is not new money and will come to Scottish Government through block grant using Barnett Formula. 100% of costs for Work Able will come directly from the S…
26 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving Skills Development Scotland to help deliver 3,000 new Foundation Apprenticeship starts in the next academic year.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This is an internal aspirational target set by Skills Development Scotland. The expansion of Foundation Apprenticeships is being funded through European Social Funding then matched by Grant in Aid from the Scottish Government. In order to support the develop…