Parliamentary questions
Daniel Johnson
1,103 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on each of its advertising campaigns in each of the last five years, broken down by spending on (a) research, insight-gathering and audience-testing, (b) creative development and production, (c) media buying, (d) website design, construction and management, (e) publ…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government publishes annual total marketing spend, broken down by services provided by the Marketing Services Framework. The spend on each of its advertising campaigns in each of the last five years is found in the following links: 2011-12:http…
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the study, Drivers and Barriers to uptake Early Learning and Childcare amongst 2 year olds, whether it will work with the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC to allow data on eligibility for free early learning and childcare to be shared with local authorities.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Yes
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the study, Drivers and Barriers to uptake Early Learning and Childcare amongst 2 year olds, how it will improve the way in which uptake data is captured, and when this new data will be available.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Current uptake calculations are based on the number of registrations for funded early learning and childcare, as collected from settings and agreed with each local authority. We are aware that improvements are needed to the data collection for this sector, an…
7 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce revised guidance on the presumption of mainstreaming.
Answer · John Swinney: As I announced at the Education and Skills Committee on 8 March 2017, the extended consultation on the presumption of mainstreaming guidance will begin on 19 May and finish at the end of August 2017. Once due consideration has been given to the consultation r…
7 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of school leavers in each year since 2011-12 went on to (a) further education, (b) higher education, (c) employment, (d) training, (e) voluntary work, (f) an activity agreement, (g) unemployment and (i) seeking and (ii) not seeking work and (h) another or unknown status, …
Answer · John Swinney: These data are published in table L1.5 of the supplementary data for the Attainment and Leaver Destinations publication for 2012-13 and 2014-15 and on a slightly different basis in table L2.2 for 2011-12 and 2012-13. These data can be accessed at: http://www…
27 Feb 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that one-in-10 training places are going unfilled, what action it is taking to encourage more people into teaching.
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which of the consultations it launched in each year since 2007 took it (a) under six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one to two years and (d) over two years to respond to.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Consultations and published responses are available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which of the consultations it launched in each year since 2007 it has yet to respond to, broken down by the (a) month the consultation closed, (b) date it expects to publish its response and (c) the reason for the delay.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Consultations and published responses are available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce legislation regarding legal recognition for non-binary genders.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to reviewing and reforming gender recognition law to ensure that it is in line with international best practice. We expect to publish a wide ranging consultation on the Gender Recognition Act 2004 this summer. We aim to ta…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is conducting regarding Scotland potentially joining the European Free Trade Association.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has held fact-finding meetings with experts on the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) / European Economic Area and EFTA officials, to discuss a range of issues.
22 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the implementation of section 179 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 regarding disabled access.
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04227 by Mark McDonald on 11 November 2016, whether it will provide an update on the information it has gathered on available capacity within the early learning and childcare sector, including the total hourly (a) term-time, (b) holiday day-time and…
Answer · Mark McDonald: The Care Inspectorate collects information on capacity places (the maximum number of children who can attend at any one time) and opening times. As at 31 December 2015 there were around (a) 152,000 capacity places in all non-domestic daycare for children sett…
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the increased childcare funding necessary to provide all three- and four-year-olds with 1,140 funded hours per year it expects to recoup through increased income tax receipts as a result of parents being able to work more.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Scottish Government has not produced estimates of the likely change in income tax receipts resulting from the provision of 1,140 funded hours of early learning and childcare per year for all three- and four-year-olds. Analysis by Scottish Government in 2014 e…
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02743 by Mark McDonald on 4 October 2016, whether it will provide an update on pilot schemes for childcare, including (a) how they will operate, (b) what the budget of each will be, (c) when they will run and (d) how many families will be involved.
Answer · Mark McDonald: We continue to develop proposals to pilot approaches to providing support for parents in low income households with the upfront costs of childcare during 2017-18. I will provide an update to the Education and Skills Committee when further details are availabl…
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02741 by Mark McDonald on 30 September 2016, whether it will provide (a) a timetable of the steps being taken toward providing 1,140 hours of free childcare, and (b) an update of progress made.
Answer · Mark McDonald: I will set out our plans for providing 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare, and an update on progress made so far, as part of my statement to Parliament on 23 March in response to our Blueprint 2020 consultation.
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) teachers and (b) graduates have worked in nurseries in the most deprived areas in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Mark McDonald: (a) Data is not collected for nursery settings specifically, but for all centres providing the funded entitlement of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). The following table shows the number of teachers working in ELC settings in the 20% most deprived areas of…
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06401 by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017, on what date it expects to publish its Skills Investment Plan.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Skills Development Scotland are currently finalising the Skills Investment Plan (SIP) with partner organisations. We expect the SIP to be published within the next month.
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-06400 and S5W-06391 by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017, where it will list each of the nurseries, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The list of nurseries in each local authority who will receive an additional graduate will be published on the Scottish Government web site once local authorities have submitted their final plans for implementing this commitment. I will provide the Education…
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06392 by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017, how many (a) graduates and (b) teachers it expects to complete courses in 2016-17.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The number of individuals completing any course is subject to variation. Looking at the average for course completions over the last four years, an average of 303 graduates and 1,434 teachers completed their courses each year.
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the quarterly figures were for (a) graduate and (b) foundation apprenticeship (i) starts, (ii) numbers in training, (iii) achievements and (iv) redundancies in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: These figures are not available by quarter.
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) graduate and (b) foundation apprenticeships have been started in each of the last five years by people who self declared as disabled.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Foundation Apprenticeships have been in operation for three years FA Starts Self-Declaring as Disabled Age Group Year Started 2014 Year Started 2015 Year Started 2016 No 54 239 263 Yes 2 7 19 Prefer Not To Say 6 7 0 Not Provided 1 34 68 …
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) graduate and (b) foundation apprenticeships have been started in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) framework, (ii) local authority and apprentice (A) gender and (B) ethnicity.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Copies of the breakdowns are contained within tables which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (BIB no 58548)
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) graduate and (b) foundation apprenticeships have been started in each of the last five years by people who were (i) 12 to 15, (ii) 16 to 19, (iii) 20 to 24 and (iv) over 25 years old.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Foundation Apprenticeships have been in operation for three years Age Breakdown of Foundation Apprenticeship starts at time of Registration Age Group Year started 2014 Year started 2015 Year started 2016 12 to 15 44 157 141 16 to 19 19 130 209 G…
1 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support businesses that will see their non-domestic rates bills increase from April 2017.
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how each of the recommendations of the Commission on Widening Access has been implemented and, for those that have not been implemented, when they will be.
Answer · John Swinney: The Commission made 34 recommendations for different parts of the education system, a number of which were for the Scottish Government to take forward. In line with dates set by the Commission, the Government has appointed a Commissioner for Fair Access and h…
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the running costs will be of the Commissioner for Fair Access.
Answer · John Swinney: Exact running costs associated with the position of Commissioner for Fair Access cannot be identified, as they may be subject to change as the requirements of the role itself adjust and mature. Relevant costs will include the Commissioner’s fees and expenses …
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of the appointment process for the Commissioner for Fair Access.
Answer · John Swinney: There was no direct cost associated with the appointment of a Commissioner for Fair Access. Work to support the appointment was undertaken by Scottish Government officials.
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where the Commissioner for Fair Access will work, and what the cost of this will be.
Answer · John Swinney: The Commissioner for Fair Access is based in London and much of his work in Scotland will involve engagement with stakeholders across the education sector at a variety of locations. The Commissioner will have access to Scottish Government meeting rooms should…
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all schools are prepared for the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Answer · John Swinney: Data Protection is a reserved matter which is regulated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) across the UK. Local authorities do not fall under the Scottish Government ICO registration therefore it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Governmen…
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the University of Glasgow and West of Scotland Local Authority partners report, How to engage with MD40 pupils in higher progression schools; whether it will fulfil the recommendations in the report, and how it will communicate the recommendations to other relevan…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes this report and notes that many of the recommendations reinforce those made by the Commission on Widening Access. The research provides new evidence on how best to target access programmes and identify individuals when support…