Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of staff each of the locations for the second round of the programme of trials for the expansion of early learning and childcare expansion require, and how many have been recruited.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Trial area Projected additional staff, including childminders (FTE) Number recruited to date Angus1,3 2.0 0.0 Argyll and Bute1,3 10.0 0.0 Dumfries and Galloway1,3 4.0 0.0 Dundee2 - - East Ayrshire2 - - Eilean Siar1, 3 1.9 0.0 Glasgow 6.1…
22 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason funding for the European Strategy Fund has been reduced by a reported 45.3%, and where this money will be reallocated.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As I explained in response to the same question at the budget session of the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee you attended in December, the European Strategy line has this year been separated out to establish a new Brussels Office lin…
22 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much will be allocated to each local authority involved with the second round of the programme of trials for the expansion of early learning and childcare expansion, and what information it has regarding how this will be used by each area.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The funding allocated by Scottish Government for each local authority in the second tranche of early learning and childcare (ELC) trials is as follows: Local authority Funding award for ELC trial Angus £22,000 Argyll and Bute £98,342 Dumfries and Gallo…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many foreign language teachers have been employed by local authorities in each year since 2010-11, broken down by (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent.
Answer · John Swinney: The data provide includes only teachers whose 'main subject taught' is recorded as a foreign language in the teacher census, conducted annually in September. Secondary school teachers whose main subject taught1 is a foreign language2 - Headcount 2010 201…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the 4.8% reduction in the number of students receiving non-repayable bursaries and grants disadvantages students who are not financially able to undertake higher education.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In October 2016, I announced an independent Review of Further and Higher Education Student Support. The review will consider all relevant data and assess the effectiveness of the current system, making recommendations for beneficial change to ensure all stude…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils have studied a foreign language in each year since 2010-11 at each level in (a) primary and (b) secondary school.
Answer · John Swinney: The specific information sought is not held centrally. The Scottish Government’s 1+2 languages policy is supporting increased provision in both primary and secondary contexts, all pupils will learn two languages in addition to their own during the Broad Gene…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided to each local authority for its 1+2 languages policy in each year since 2012, and whether this amount was ring-fenced.
Answer · John Swinney: £m Aberdeen City 0.131 0.164 0.240 0.167 0.702 Aberdeenshire 0.208 0.260 0.381 0.264 1.113 Angus 0.091 0.114 0.162 0.112 0.479 Argyll & Bute 0.062 0.077 0.109 0.075 0.323 Clackmannanshire 0.041 0.051 0.072 0.050 0.214 Dumfries &…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, Higher Education Student Support in Scotland 2015-16, by the Student Awards Agency Scotland, what assessment it has made of the reason why the number of students receiving non-repayable bursaries and grants decreased by 4.8% in 2015-16 compared with the previous …
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In October 2016, I announced an independent Review of Further and Higher Education Student Support. The review will consider all relevant data and assess the effectiveness of the current system, making recommendations for beneficial change to ensure all stude…
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05026 by John Swinney on 6 December 2016, whether it will confirm that local authorities hold teacher vacancy data.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not normally collate information on teacher vacancies. However, I can confirm that local authorities as employers do hold teacher vacancy data.
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the proposal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh to establish "a dedicated centre for the study of economics in education".
Answer · John Swinney: The proposal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to establish a dedicated centre for the study of economics in education forms part of its response to the Government’s consultation on “Empowering Teachers, Parents and Communities to Achieve Excellence and…
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which academic or research studies it considered prior to the publication of the review of school governance.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to taking an evidence-led approach to the reform of Scottish education. The Education Governance Review is underpinned by current evidence on the performance of Scottish education and best practice internationally of the e…
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of £120 million of funding for schools, which will be passed on to head teachers, whether the funding will (a) include a review of the devolved school management system and (b) be tied to staff costs under the devolved school management system.
Answer · John Swinney: In 2017-18, £120 million Pupil Equity Funding will be targeted to help children and young people overcome the barriers to learning associated with poverty. It will extend the reach of the Scottish Attainment Challenge to around 95% of Scotland’s schools and i…
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the overall quayside construction costs of Global Energy's Nigg yard was met by its award of £6.5 million.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) awarded £6,532,226 towards project costs of £40,481,212, which represents 16.1% of the total.
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities have made changes to the definition of "Additional Support Needs" since 2010.
Answer · John Swinney: The definition of Additional Support Needs is provided by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended). It has not been amended since 2005. The definition is explained in detail within the Statutory Code of Practice 'Suppor…
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of children has been in (a) public, (b) private and (c) other types of nurseries in each year since 2010-11, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Mark McDonald: We do not hold information on the average number of children in nurseries over the course of a year. We do however have data on the number of registrations for funded Early Learning and Childcare as collected through the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) cen…
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much each local authority paid to another local authority for nursery partnership places' reimbursement in each year since 2010-11.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Scottish Government does not collect information on financial arrangements between local authorities concerning cross-boundary early learning and childcare placements.
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many interpreters each local authority has had in each year since 2007-08, and for which languages.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
20 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it will provide to nurseries in the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland to expand childcare flexibility and availability.
Answer · Mark McDonald: In late 2016 we set out our programme of ELC expansion trials, which will test a variety of different delivery models across Scotland. The programme covers 14 different trials, with ten of these located in deprived areas (the trials in Aberdeen, Dundee, East…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the written submission from Fair Funding for Our Kids to the Education and Skills Committee as part of its overview sessions on early learning and childcare, whether the 10% deduction from each child's partnerhip funding after the lifting of the cap on partnership places by G…
Answer · Mark McDonald: The proposed 10% deduction is an individual arrangement discussed between the nursery and parents, which has now been rejected by the nursery in question. Local authorities are legally obliged to provide the mandatory amount of early learning and childcare fr…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates decreases to the partnership funding for each child if (a) there is an expansion to partnership-provided nursery places and (b) if the cap to partnership-provided nursery places is lifted across Scotland.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Private and voluntary sector partner providers are an important part of early learning and childcare (ELC) provision and will continue to make a valuable contribution as the free entitlement is extended to 1,140 hours a year. Delivering greater choice for par…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider an exemption to the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone for smaller farmers and crofters with smaller numbers of birds.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Smaller-scale farmers' and crofters' flocks are subject to the same risk from Avian Influenza circulating in wild birds as the larger, commercial flocks, therefore any exemption for certain keepers to the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone may reduce its effecti…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to smaller farmers and crofters affected by the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has supported all bird keepers by providing information and guidance (including Frequently Asked Questions) about the requirements of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone on its website, within emails to stakeholders, societies and thei…
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with (a) Universities Scotland and (b) Colleges Scotland regarding the abolition of the Scottish Funding Council board in advance of the publication of the report, Enterprise and Skills Review: Report on Phase 1.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government meets regularly with both Universities Scotland and Colleges Scotland to discuss a range of matters, including the Enterprise and Skills Review. Most recently, SG officials discussed the conclusions of Phase one and preparations for Ph…
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of each meeting that it had with (a) Universities Scotland, (b) Colleges Scotland and (c) the Scottish Funding Council regarding the enterprise and skills review (i) prior to and (ii) after the announcement of the review.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government meets regularly with Universities Scotland, Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council to discuss a range of matters, including the Enterprise and Skills Review. The published record of the responses to the call for evidence of…
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the evidence that it has received from stakeholders that supports the abolition of the Scottish Funding Council board.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government undertook a public call for evidence in relation to the Enterprise and Skills Review and all responses from organisations and, where individuals gave permission, have been published online at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Economy/Entand…
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment on this issue, which nurseries are eligible to receive an additional qualified teacher or graduate by 2018.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Government will set out further details later this month as to how the commitment that nurseries in the most deprived areas will have an additional teacher or graduate from 2018 will be delivered.
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance it has given to and (b) information it has exchanged with local authorities regarding (i) reducing the attainment gap and (ii) implementing the 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Reducing the attainment gap On 13 December 2016, the Scottish Government published the 2017 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for Scottish education, as well as the National Improvement Framework evidence report for 2016. The Framework is c…
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) nurseries and (b) children have had access to a GTC-registered teacher on a (i) full- and (ii) part-time basis in each year since 2007-08.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) census does not separate out nurseries from other settings providing the funded ELC entitlement that are covered by the census. Although information is not collected on childminders, the collection does include playgroup…
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported decrease in the number of children in pre-school education settings who have access to a GTC-registered teacher, from 75.4% to 73.2%, what plans it has to address this issue.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Decisions regarding how teachers are involved in the delivery of early learning and childcare (ELC) are the responsibility of local authorities. However, it is a requirement of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) that every manager/lead practitioner …
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by the Scottish Local Government Partnership that councils have “not had one single piece of information on what the capital investment” for extending childcare to 1,140 hours will be.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The Draft Scottish Budget announced on 15 December allocated £30 million of capital investment for new, expanded or enhanced early learning and childcare settings in preparation for delivery of 1140 hours from 2020. We are working closely with the Scottish Fu…