Parliamentary questions
Ms Rosemary Byrne
600 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many records of needs appeals there were in each year from 1995 to 1999 and, of these, what percentage were (a) successful and (b) in respect of children with an autistic spectrum disorder.
Answer · Robert Brown: There was a small number of appealsat national level and, in order to prevent disclosure of individuals, it is notpossible to provide a breakdown by local authorities. The following table sets outthe numbers of appeals received in each year form 1995 to 1999;…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many special educational needs placement appeals were made to appeals hearing committees in each year from 1995 to 1999 and, of these, what percentage were (a) successful and (b) in respect of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26122 on 6 June 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…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many special educational needs placement appeals were made to sheriff courts in each year from 1995 to 1999 and, of these, what percentage were (a) successful and (b) in respect of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26123 on 6 June 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…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of continuous professional development courses for teachers specifically address dyslexia awareness.
Answer · Peter Peacock: This information is not heldcentrally.</p><p>However,you may be aware that the Executive has funded specific projects designed to assistthe continuous professional development of teachers in dyslexia awareness.</p><p>Oneinvolves an award to Dyslexia Scotland …
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of postgraduate teacher training courses specifically address dyslexia awareness.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Postgraduate teacher educationcourses do not include prescribed content covering dyslexia awareness.</p><p>However, student teachers onsuch courses do receive an appropriate amount of tuition and guidance on how torecognise and support pupils with additional …
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of initial teacher training courses specifically address dyslexia awareness.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Initial teacher education coursesdo not include prescribed content covering dyslexia awareness.</p><p>Student teachers do, however,receive an appropriate amount of tuition and guidance on how to recognise and supportpupils with additional support needs, inclu…
9 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when discussions will take place with COSLA regarding kinship care allowances.
Answer · Robert Brown: We need to consider the questionof allowances for kinship carers within the broader context of support for kinshipcarers and assessment of kinship carers. These will be considered as part of our National Fostering Strategylater this year. It will be important…
9 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when Professor Jane Aldgate’s report on the needs of kinship carers will be published.
Answer · Robert Brown: Professor Aldgate’s reportis one of several supporting documents for a wider review of services andoutcomes for looked after children in Scotland, carried out by the Social Work Inspection Agency.It will be published shortly, alongside the main report.</p>
23 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the current system with regard to rod licences for rivers on the border between Scotland and England.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There are no plans to changethe current system as it is entirely a matter for the UK Parliament.</p>
23 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was contained in any informal agreement regarding the management of rivers on the border between Scotland and England between it and the UK Government which specifically concerned rod licences.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no informalagreement between The Scottish Executive and the UK Government with regard to rodlicences.</p>
23 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of any informal agreement between it and the UK Government regarding the management of rivers on the border between Scotland and England.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive hasno informal agreement with the UK Government with regard to the management of the Border Rivers. Management of the two rivers is governed by statute. However,as a matter of good practice the Environment Agency and the Executive keep …
23 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what jurisdiction the Environment Agency has to impose rod licences on anglers fishing the Border Esk.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Salmon and FreshwaterFisheries Act 1975 places an obligation on the Environment Agency for the rodlicensing system which applies to the Esk including that part which is situatedin Scotland.</p>
23 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for river management on the Border Esk.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Environment Agency haveresponsibility for fisheries management on the Border Esk.</p>
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of providing training in the diagnosis of autism in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Information about the costs oftraining in the diagnosis of autism is not held centrally.</p><p>The Scottish Executive is supporting four training pilotprojects in the use of diagnostic tools to develop expertise in diagnosis acrossa wider range of professiona…
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of providing training in the treatment of autisim in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are a range of therapiesand interventions for managing autism spectrum disorders and the SIGN guidelinecurrently being developed will contain recommendations for effective interventionsbased on current evidence.</p><p>Information about the costs oftrain…
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with an autistic spectrum disorder were excluded, either permanently or temporarily, from their school in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally for each of the years specified. However, the following tableprovides the data for 2003-04 and 2004-05.</p><p>Exclusions<sup>1</sup> AmongPupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as their Main Difficulty of L…
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with an autistic spectrum disorder were given a school placement outwith their local authority area in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many special educational needs placement appeals were made to sheriff courts in each year from 1999 to 2005 and, of these, what percentage were (a) successful and (b) in respect of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Executive collects informationabout the numbers of refused placing request references made to sheriff courts.This is available at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/ECS2006Publ">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/1…
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many special educational needs placement appeals were made to appeals hearing committees in each year from 1999 to 2005 and, of these, what percentage were (a) successful and (b) in respect of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Executive collects informationabout the numbers of refused placing request references made to education authorityappeal committees. This is available at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/ECS2006Publ">http://www.scotland.go…
22 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many records of needs appeals there were in each year from 1999 to 2005 and, of these, what percentage were (a) successful and (b) in respect of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: There was a small number of appealsat national level and, in order to prevent disclosure of individuals, it is notpossible to provide a breakdown by local authorities. The following table sets outthe numbers of appeals received in each year; the numbers of ap…
9 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the Scottish Funding Council has decided to award targeted growth to address the issue of college growth in areas where there is low participation to all such areas except the south of Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We expect the Scottish FundingCouncil (SFC) to use its expertise and judgement in setting college budgets, freefrom ministerial interference. The SFC decided to support those with the least developedskills and qualifications and to focus on areas where the su…
5 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area have accessed professional level courses on autism since 1999, showing numbers in respect of (a) postgraduate modules in autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) from the University of Strathclyde and (b) distance learning professional courses in ASD…
Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
5 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on professional level courses on autism for Scottish teachers in each year since 1999.
Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
5 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was allocated to each local authority education department for autism-related training courses for teachers in each year since 1999.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive doesnot allocate funding specifically for training in autistic spectrum disorder.The Executive does, however, provide significant funding to educationauthorities to support the in-service development and training of teaching andnon-teac…
5 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds were allocated to each local authority education department for continuous professional development in each year from 1999 to 2005.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isprovided in the following table. This comprises: the general CPD allocation tolocal authorities for teachers; funds given specifically for training anddevelopment of teaching and support staff working with pupils with additionalsup…
5 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all rights of people with autistic spectrum disorder are covered by existing legislation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Existing legislationprotects the human rights of all people in Scotland including those withautism spectrum disorders.</p><p>I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24770 on27 April 2006. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on…
4 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommended number of hours of physical education is for each child in primary school.
Answer · Peter Peacock: All schools, primary andsecondary, should be working towards the provision of at least two hours ofgood quality physical education for each child every week.</p>
4 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been provided to health and social services in the Highlands and Islands for drug treatment and support in each year since 1999.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The following table details fundingallocated to Highland, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles for drugmisuse treatment services each year from since 1999. </p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p>Year</p> </t…
4 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what drug treatment services are available to people living in Campbeltown.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Argyll and Clyde Alcohol andDrug Action Team (ADAT) are responsible for the planning and delivery of drugtreatment services in Campbeltown.</p><p>Information provided by theADAT to the Executive demonstrates that there is a full range of services locatedwithi…
4 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to ensure that commuters from East Lothian, who have limited alternative public transport options, are protected against further rises in bus fares.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The bus industry in Scotlandoperates in an open market and it is for bus operators to use their commercialjudgement to decide on the level of fares, the routes and the frequenciesneeded to provide bus services which are financially viable. To help reducefares…