Parliamentary questions
Ms Rosemary Byrne
600 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students specialising in English did not gain an immediate placement at the start of their postgraduate teacher training course in September 2006.
Answer · Peter Peacock: In total there are 3,362(1,599 primary and 1,763 secondary) student teachers in Scotland undertakingone-year professional graduate diploma in education (PGDE) courses. All havebeen allocated a school place for their first six-week block school placement which…
2 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is addressing the issues of localised air pollution, reduction in stratospheric ozone, risks to water quality from diffuse pollution, increases in the amount of waste being produced, potential ecological damage from nutrient enrichment and acidification and loss of biodiversity.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has a range ofstrategies to tackle environmental pressures such as the Air Quality Strategyand the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. Policies are continually reviewed asnew evidence emerges which is why the Executive will shortly be consulting oni…
2 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to undertake research into land quality, the environmental implications of hazardous chemicals and the relationship between the environment and human health.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Research on land quality is includedwithin the five year programmes of research recently commissioned by theEnvironment and Rural Affairs Department.</p><p>The Scottish Executive plansto undertake more specific research which will review the effectiveness of …
28 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a system of performance monitoring of pre-school and school education expenditure.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the evidenceI gave to the Education Committee on 24 October 2006 regarding the budget.</p>
28 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the decrease in local authority grants, identified by Professor Arthur Midwinter in a briefing note for the Finance Committee on 12 September 2006, will impact on delivery of Scottish pre-school and school education, given that 85% of the education budget comes from local authority gr…
Answer · Robert Brown: Professor Midwinter’s briefingnote to the Finance Committee refers to grant funding which is outwith and additionalto grant aided expenditure (GAE) which forms part of the local government financesettlement for core local authority services, including educati…
21 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken in Scotland to identify best practice in teaching methods and best practices in the education of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorder.
Answer · Robert Brown: As referred to in the answerto question S2W-28590, the Scottish Executive has commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorateof Education to carry out a specific inspection of the educational provision forchildren and young people with an autism spectrum disorder. As…
21 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to monitor the education of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorder.
Answer · Robert Brown: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate ofEducation (HMIE), through their general inspection programme, inspect and publishreports on the educational provision for children and young people with additionalsupport needs, including those with autism spectrum disorders. Howe…
18 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of (a) noise, (b) air, (c) water, (d) soil and (e) chemical pollution on pregnant women and what the results of any such studies were.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist’s Officeof the Scottish Executive Health Department has funded a study of environmentalrisk factors for congenital eye defects in children of women exposed to pesticidesand pollutants. The tentative conclusion was that genetic factors were…
18 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of chemical pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28429 on 3 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
18 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of water pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-28429 on 3 October 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
18 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of soil pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28429 on 3 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
18 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of air pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has notundertaken studies into the effects of chemical pollution in air, water or soilon children suffering from these disorders.</p><p>The Scottish Executive HealthDepartment maintains an overview of these public health issues and take…
18 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken into the effects of ambient noise pollution on children with (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (b) autistic spectrum disorder and (c) cognitive development impairment and what the results of any such studies were.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28429 on 3 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
15 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities provide supervision on all school transport.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
15 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities ensure that there is provision of seat belts on all school transport.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
25 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what chemicals are released in the burning of coal imported into Scotland as compared to those released in the burning of indigenous coal.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does nothold information centrally on the chemicals released from the burning of importedcoal as compared to indigenous coal. However, the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory(SPRI) database contains information on the emissions of part…
25 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the chemical composition is of coal imported into Scotland as compared to that of indigenous coal.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does nothold information centrally on the chemical composition of coal imported into Scotland as comparedto that of indigenous coal.</p>
25 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the countries from which coal has been imported into Scotland in each year since 1999.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does nothold information centrally on the countries from which coal is imported into Scotland.</p>
25 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much coal has been imported into Scotland in each year since 1999.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does nothold figures centrally on the amount of coal imported into Scotland. However,as a part of the Scottish Energy study some estimates were made for Scottish coalimports and exports for 2002: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.u…
25 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of how much carbon dioxide has been expended in the importation of coal into Scotland in each year since 1999.
Answer · Allan Wilson: No such estimate has been made.</p>
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry about introducing carbon capture and storage technology in the coal industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27363 on 2 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry about making resources available to develop carbon capture and storage technology in the coal industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27363 on 2 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry about introducing clean coal burn technology in the coal industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27363 on 2 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry about making resources available to develop clean coal burn technology in the coal industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has beenfully engaged with the Department of Trade and Industry during their Energy Reviewand we raised this issue in our response to the review.</p><p>The full text of the Executive’sresponse to the review can be found at <ahref="http:…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry about introducing the blending of coal and biomass in the coal industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27363 on 2 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry about making resources available to develop the blending of coal and biomass in the coal industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27363 on 2 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have failed to secure permanent posts for the 2006-07 school year following their probationary period.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally. The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities and recruitmentwill continue up to and on through the 2006-07 school year.</p><p>Newly trained teachers are entitledto a year’s induction and thereafter enter …
21 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authority areas have a befriending service for children and young people and who operates those services in each area.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally. However, via funding to the Laidlaw Youth Project, we have funded a mappingexercise of Mentoring and Befriending services in Scotland. Thiscan be accessed from the Scottish Mentoring Network website:</p><p><ahref="http:/…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25679 by Peter Peacock on 15 May 2006, what funds were allocated to local authority education departments for continuous professional development in each year from 1995-96 to1998-99.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Funding for continuing professionaldevelopment (CPD) from 1995-96 to 1998-99 would have come from local authoritiesgeneral allocation. We are therefore unable to separately identify the amounts allocatedfor continuing professional development for these years.…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to each local authority education department for autism-related training courses for teachers in each year from 1995 to 1999
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25680 on 15 May 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…