Parliamentary questions
John Park
411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that disabled people have equal access to training opportunities, including apprenticeships.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Our training opportunities, including apprenticeships, offer a superb vocational grounding to people from all walks of life. Disabled people in Scotland currently have equal access to all such opportunities, although we recognise that participation in the app…
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to open up training opportunities and apprenticeships for all.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Our training opportunities, including apprenticeships, offer a superb vocational grounding to people from all walks of life. It is essential that the targeting of these opportunities towards underrepresented groups is as effective as possible.</p> <p >In ord…
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it has sought from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support workers who have lost their jobs as a result of changing global trade patterns to find another job as quickly as possible.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Applications for funding from the European Globalisation Fund can only be made by member states and as such this is a matter reserved to the UK Government.</p>
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets or plans it has in relation to the EU Social Agenda priority area of opportunities, access and solidarity on the global scene.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution the EU can make in<b> </b>promoting internationally the social dimension of globalisation as outlined in this EU Social Agenda priority. The Scottish Government''s International Development Policy …
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Scotland’s share of EU structural funds, including PROGRESS and the European Social Fund, will be used to (a) create employment, (b) address social deprivation and (c) help bridge the digital divide.
Answer · Jim Mather: PROGRESS is a European Commission run programme to help member states achieve the objectives set out in the EU''s Social Agenda. Unlike the European Social Fund, there is no earmarked funding for each participating country. The Scottish Government is not invo…
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scotland will secure from PROGRESS, the European Union’s employment and social solidarity programme, over the programme period 2007-13 and how the Scottish Government will manage those funds.
Answer · Jim Mather: The implementation of PROGRESS falls within the direct responsibility of the European Commission. This means that PROGRESS is directly managed by the European Commission through the publications of calls for proposals or calls for tenders leading to the selec…
16 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any involvement in the plans to develop a national centre for asbestos-related diseases.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…
9 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on delivering 7,800 extra modern apprenticeships.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-01.htm">http://www.scot…
3 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reached a decision on the future of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.
Answer · Richard Lochhead : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm">http://www.scot…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25156 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 August 2009, for what reason the sectoral breakdown of training opportunities is not held centrally.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland are responsible for collecting management information relating to training opportunities in Scotland.</p> <p >Skills Development Scotland are currently working with the management information systems from four different legacy org…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25156 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 August 2009, how it is recording the creation and delivery of training opportunities on an annual basis and how the figure of more than 50,000 training opportunities for each of the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 was reached.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland records the total number of people starting on modern apprenticeships, Skillseekers, Training for Work and Get Ready for Work training programmes, and the number of courses started with support from Individual Learning Accounts.</p…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25156 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 August 2009, how many of the training opportunities delivered in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are modern apprenticeships at (a) level two and (b) level three.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: All of the modern apprenticeships delivered in 2007-08 and 2008-09 were SVQ level 3 (SCQF level 6).</p> <p >The first level 2 (SCQF 5) modern apprenticeship frameworks were approved by the Modern Apprenticeship Group in October 2008. As a result 2009-10 will…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S3W-25156 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 August 2009, what its definition is of a “training opportunity”.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government''s definition of training opportunities are government-funded, work-related skills provision through:</b></p> <p >National training programmes like modern apprentices and Skillseekers based on Scottish/National Vocational Qualificati…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Stage 3 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 3) Bill on 4 February 2009 (Official Report, c. 14650), how many of the 18,500 new apprentices have been recruited, what sectors these are in and when the apprenticeship placements will begin.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland publish management information relating to modern apprenticeships quarterly. Information on quarter one of this year, April to June can be found online at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.sscalliance.org/ModernApprenticeshipsScotland/…
15 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting investment in capital projects by businesses.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government and its agencies support businesses investing in capital projects through a number of grant schemes.</p> <p >Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is our main national grant scheme to industry aimed at encouraging investment and job cre…
15 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Enterprise is working with businesses to invest in innovation and research and development.
Answer · Jim Mather: Innovation and research and development support are key areas of Scottish Enterprise''s work with business. For example, Scottish Enterprise (SE) offers specialist support to businesses on issues such as product development and process innovation and delivers…
15 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made bids to the £750 million Strategic Investment Fund announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and, if so, (a) what bids it has made and (b) whom it consulted when drawing up these bids.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made the following bids to the Strategic Investment Fund announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It consulted a range of private and public sector partners when drawing up these bids.</p> <p >Energy-relat…
8 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the resolution of the Parliament on motion S3M-4187 on 21 May 2009 and the publication of Preparing for Recovery: Update on the Scottish Economic Recovery Programme on 15 June 2009, how it intends to implement the full 75,000 training places and whether a full plan outlining ho…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The 75,000 people expected to gain or sustain employment opportunities through training and skills development represents the total number of beneficiaries detailed by the project sponsors of the 78 European social funding projects announced in April 2009. Th…
8 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the resolution of the Parliament on motion S3M-4187 on 21 May 2009 and the publication of Preparing for Recovery: Update on the Scottish Economic Recovery Programme on 15 June 2009, how it intends to implement the extra 7,800 apprenticeship places and whether a full plan outlin…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Three thousand, eight hundred and forty of the additional 7,800 apprenticeship places have been announced. This includes:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p >1,000 - for Glasgow City Council</p> </td> </tr…
8 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the resolution of the Parliament on motion S3M-4187 on 21 May 2009, what consideration it has given subsequently to the implementation of the ProAct scheme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In developing Scottish solutions to take forward our Economic Recovery Programme, the Scottish Government has considered a range of schemes across, and outwith, the UK including ProAct. On 10 June, I announced ScotAction - an integrated skills package combini…
25 Jun 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive , in view of the recent announcement of pilots of NHS board elections in Fife and Dumfries and Galloway, when and where the alternatives to elections will be piloted and what form they will take.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government announced on 16 June 2009 that the alternatives to health board election pilots would be held in NHS Grampian and NHS Lothian. These alternative models for health boards will run concurrently with the pilot health board elections and w…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of concerns about gender segregation in the modern apprenticeship scheme identified by the 2004 General Formal Investigation by the Equal Opportunities Commission that led to the establishment of the Scottish Government’s Cross-Directorate Occupational Segregation Working Group,…
Answer · Keith Brown: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will undertake an equality impact assessment on the modern apprenticeship programme in the coming year. Early discussions between SDS and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have indicated a willingness to work together …
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22721 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 May 2009, for what reason an equality impact assessment to ensure compliance with its public sector duties has not been previously undertaken by Skills Development Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has equality impact assessments in place for the products and services delivered by the legacy organisations that came together to form SDS. The process is underway to re-assess these products and services as SDS products and…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22721 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 May 2009, when it expects Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to report back on the outcome of the equality impact assessment that it will undertake to comply with its public sector duties.
Answer · Keith Brown: The outcome of the equality impact assessment of Skills Development Scotland''s corporate and operating plan will be published shortly along with the plan on the SDS website.</p>
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adult apprenticeship places were discontinued in 2008-09 and how many adult apprenticeships or apprenticeships with no age restrictions are being reintroduced in 2009-10.
Answer · Keith Brown: All adult apprenticeships started prior to April 2008 continued to be funded through to their completion in the following years. In addition, 1,526 adult apprenticeship starts were funded in 2008-09.</p> <p >So far, for 2009-10, funding has been approved for…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 50,000 training places announced in 2007 have been created and in what sectors.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: More than 50,000 training opportunities have been created and delivered in each of the years 2007-08 and 2008-09. Information on the sectoral breakdown of these is not held centrally.</p>
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recently announced 75,000 training places are in addition to the 50,000 training places announced in 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: The 78 European Social Funding projects for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, announced by the First Minister on 18 April 2009, are expected to help over 75,000 people gain or sustain employment opportunities through training and skills development.</p> <p >The…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce minimum training rates for apprentices given that apprentices in England will benefit from a minimum rate of £95 per week from August 2009.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Apprentices are currently exempt from national minimum wage regulations, which is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government supports the removal of that exemption and has made representations to this effect.</p> <p >The UK Government has recently announced …
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information, advice and guidance is made available to (a) young people, (b) parents, (c) adults seeking retraining or employment, (d) careers and advisory services in schools and colleges and (e) employers to challenge gender stereotyping and tackle occupational segregation.
Answer · Alex Neil: Skills Development Scotland (Careers Scotland) carried out an extensive piece of research on Gender Stereotyping of Career Choice in 2006-07. A summary of the findings is captured in the report and available on its website (under Equal Opportunities) at:</p> …
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will challenge gender stereotyping and occupational segregation in the delivery of the additional 7,800 modern apprentices agreed as part of the Scottish budget negotiations.
Answer · Keith Brown: There are a number of barriers to be faced in tackling occupational segregation within the modern apprenticeship programme and a joint approach is needed to address this complex matter.</p> <p >The occupational segregation issue is not solely linked to moder…