Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that community councils should have access to crime statistics broken down by beat area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Operational decisions regarding the sharing of police data are a matter for Police Scotland. Local commanders currently share performance information with local authorities as part of local scrutiny and engagement arrangements.
4 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support for childcare is available only to student nurses.
Answer · Alex Neil: Nursing and midwifery students who have children and have expenses for registered or formal childcare can receive up to £1,216 for registered or formal childcare costs, depending on the cost of the childcare.
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many accounts it follows on Twitter; for what purpose, and what its engagement policy is.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Twitter account @scotgov follows 760 other accounts, consisting of a variety of stakeholders, organisations, and individuals, so that it can be made aware of new information as it emerges into the public domain.
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned (a) polling, (b) research and (c) focus groups to consider public attitudes to the referendum on independence.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not commissioned research, polling or focus groups on public attitudes to the referendum on independence. The Scottish Government has commissioned analysis of the responses to the “Your Scotland, Your Referendum” consultation. The…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of instances in which its directorates have paid to promote government (a) ministers and (b) policies on social media.
Answer · John Swinney: (a) The Scottish Government does not pay to promote Scottish Government ministers. (b) The Scottish Government uses social media as a part of integrated marketing campaigns to engage and promote government public information and social marketing activity. D…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its staff have access to the passwords for ministerial Twitter accounts and, if so, which accounts.
Answer · John Swinney: Ministers operate their Twitter accounts in a personal capacity. Details of who has access to the First Ministers Twitter account are published on Twitter and can be found through the following link: twitter.com/AlexSalmond
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its directorates are instructed to establish Twitter accounts and build followers and, if so, by whom and for what purpose.
Answer · John Swinney: Directorates decide themselves whether or not to establish Twitter accounts as part of a range of options available for digital communication with stakeholders and the public.
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out or plans to carry out an assessment of public attitudes to its (a) policies and (b) ministers using social media.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not used social media to carry out an assessment of public attitudes to its policies or its ministers. Options for using social media as part of the evaluation of the Commonwealth Games legacy are currently being considered.
11 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it made prior to the publication of the 2013-14 draft budget of the impact of changes in student support in 2013-14 on the level of debt that will apply to students from lower-income households.
Answer · Michael Russell: Based on the support arrangements that apply in 2013-14, students from Scotland from the lowest income households who are eligible for a total maintenance package of £7250 will accrue a maximum annual debt of £5,500. This policy was considered in the context…
11 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland provided to or for full-time students in receipt of a bursary in 2012-13 and expected to continue to receive support in 2013-14, that makes reference to reductions in bursaries available in 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government announced the 2013-14 support package for higher education students on 22 August 2012. In addition to its usual information work with colleges, universities and student bodies, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) contacted a…
11 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of student support arrangements in other parts of the UK to support the claim that Scotland has the best package of student support in the UK.
Answer · Michael Russell: The information is available from each of the administrations who give wide publicity to the offer so that students know what support is available to them. For session 2013-14, Scottish students from the lowest income households will receive a total maintena…
7 Oct 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the findings of the Economic and Social Research Council regarding higher education.
25 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the replacement for the Glow network will be operational by December 2013.
23 Sep 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the shortage of supply teachers.
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the spend per head is in each of the sectors involved in the delivery of post-16 education.
Answer · Michael Russell: A number of organisations are involved in delivering post-16 education. I have asked the chief executives of both the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland to write to the member. Local authorities also deliver post-16 education to S5 and …
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of higher education it expects to be delivered in colleges by 2020.
Answer · Michael Russell: Through the outcome agreement process individual colleges work with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to determine the profile of learning activity that will best meet the needs of the learners and employers in the communities they serve. The annual nature …
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) strategic forums and (b) stakeholder reference groups have been set up by its education directorate; who the members are; how regularly they meet; whether they are time-limited, and what their relationship is with each other.
Answer · Michael Russell: Please see table below. Following clarification and for completeness, the response covers details of all groups in existence during the last three years. Name of Strategic forums and stakeholder reference groups Purpose Who the members are How regularly t…
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of college lecturers has a teaching qualification, broken down by institution.
Answer · Michael Russell: This matter falls within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) Students Awards Agency for Scotland-funded and (b) self-funded students have undertaken a Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Russell: This matter falls within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed sex education in schools and whether it plans to do so in the future.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Relationships, sexual health and parenthood education was reviewed when Curriculum for Excellence was introduced into schools in 2010 and there are no plans for a further review. The Scottish Government, Education Scotland and Health Scotland are currently co…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch its new college for educational leadership; how much resource has been allocated to the work, and when it will open.
Answer · Michael Russell: I announced on 25 September 2013 that I had endorsed the proposal to establish a Scottish college for educational leadership and have asked Tony Finn to take on the role of interim chair. I anticipate that the college will move quickly to establish an on-line…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with (a) Barnardo's, (b) Children in Scotland, (c) NSPCC and (d) Children 1st since 1 January 2013 and what issues were discussed in each case.
Answer · Michael Russell: Ministers and Officials from the Education and Lifelong Learning portfolio are in regular contact with representatives from each of these organisations. The specific ministerial meetings were: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning met wi…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the involvement of parents in children’s education and how it will ensure that children from poorer backgrounds are not marginalised in the process.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Curriculum for Excellence recognises the important role that all parents and carers have in supporting children’s learning and development. We are committed to promoting parental involvement at all levels and with all parents, in line with the Scottish School…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it raises awareness of its website, Schools-Online, to parents and at what cost.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Education Scotland hosts the Scottish Schools Online website and raises awareness of it through links from various parts of the wider Education Scotland Online Service including Parentzone and the standard page footer. There are also links to Scottish Schools…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many copies of its guide to the curriculum for excellence it has produced and what the cost was, also broken down into (a) print, (b) design and (c) distribution costs.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The leaflet “Great Learning in Scotland” was developed in partnership with the National Parent Forum of Scotland, responding to parental requests to explain Curriculum for Excellence. 710,000 copies of the leaflet have been distributed to all families with a …
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to begin its consultation on class sizes.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I announced in March that I was keen to explore and debate, in partnership and consultation with COSLA and other stakeholders, the extent to which our policies on class sizes and teacher numbers can play a role in delivering improved outcomes and closing the …
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether additional resource will be required or allocated to support its plans for a nationally coordinated programme to partner schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Some resource will be required to support plans for the School Improvement Partnership Programme. However, these resources will be funded from within the current Education and Lifelong Learning budget.
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide details of its plans for a nationally coordinated programme to partner schools and who will decide which schools are partnered.
Answer · Michael Russell: Details of the School Improvement Partnership Programme were provided to education authorities at the beginning of August 2013. A panel made up of representatives from Education Scotland, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland and Glasgow Univ…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding its plans for a nationally coordinated programme to partner schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland is leading the development of this work and has had regular discussions with the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland and other stakeholders about plans for the School Improvement Partnership Programme. Education authorities we…
9 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning will introduce the senior phase benchmarking tool.
Answer · Michael Russell: The senior phase benchmarking tool will go live in August 2014. The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, secondary schools and other partners throughout the development stages. This includes making available early prototype editions …