Parliamentary questions
Liam Kerr
2,165 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many computing science teachers it expects will be recruited in 2024.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The recruitment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. Details on the number of teachers employed in Scotland’s schools will be available in the annual teacher census which is due to be published in December. The university intake targets for Initial…
4 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many discussions it has had with teaching organisations regarding its plans to deliver a national digital academy in 2024, and what the outcomes were of any such discussions.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government and Education Scotland have begun user engagement around the development of a National Digital Academy. A survey capturing the views of 2,229 learners has been undertaken, and a series of interviews and focus groups have been held with lea…
4 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with teaching organisations regarding increasing the timetabling of computing science at Higher level, and what the outcomes were of any such discussions.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The timetabling of Computing Science in the senior phase is the responsibility of individual schools who have discretion to deliver a curriculum that best meets the needs of their pupils and the wider community. Since September 2022, Education Scotland has o…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to reducing teachers' class-contact time to 21 hours per week, and, if so, when it expects to meet this target.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We remain committed to reducing class contact time, and we continue to explore with COSLA and the teacher unions, through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), how best to deliver this commitment. Any changes to terms and conditions for tea…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling any work-related stress in the teaching sector that results from teachers working beyond the 35-hour working week.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government values teachers and is committed to understanding their needs and providing them with the right support. While teacher wellbeing is ultimately a matter for the employer, since 2020 we have invested more than £2 million specifically in…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to update the Teachers’ Agreement 2001, in light of recent reports that its provisions do not match the current workload that teachers undertake.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Whilst there are no current plans to update the Teachers’ Agreement 2001, any future changes to teachers’ terms and conditions would be matters for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which was established as part of the Teachers’ Agreement.
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) research suggesting that, on average, teachers in Scotland work 46 hours per week.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While employment practice is a matter for local authorities as employers, the Scottish Government values teachers and recognises the concerns around teacher workload that are identified in this research. We are committed to working with COSLA and the teacher…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve access to elective professional learning within the teaching sector.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Teachers in Scotland are required to spend 35 hours on professional learning per year and to engage in a Professional Update process every five years as a requirement for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. As set out in the Scottish…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that teachers are spending an average of 11.39 hours a week outside contracted hours on work-related activity, undertaken in the morning before work, into the evening and at home at the weekend.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While employment practice is a matter for local authorities as employers, the Scottish Government values teachers and recognises the concerns around teacher workload that are identified in this research. We are committed to working with COSLA and the teacher…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is planning to take to streamline the lesson planning process for teachers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The provision of education is the responsibility of Local Authorities and so the detailed approach to lesson planning is a matter for individual schools – however it has always been the case that Scotland’s teachers are entrusted to plan their lessons as they…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that teachers are not required to work beyond a 35-hour working week.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While employment practice is a matter for local authorities as employers, the Scottish Government values teachers and recognises concerns around teacher workload. That is why we remain which is why we remain committed to reducing class contact time by 90 minu…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether 7.5 hours per week, out of the required 35 hours, is sufficient time for teachers to carry out their preparation and correction duties.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We continue to explore, with our partners on the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), how best to deliver the balance required for preparation and contact time. Any changes to teachers’ terms and conditions require tripartite agreement through…
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to the 35-hour working week for teachers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Yes. Teachers’ terms and conditions are matters for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers.
1 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with teaching organisations to ensure that teachers are not required to work beyond their contracted hours at the weekend.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While employment practice is a matter for local authorities as employers, the Scottish Government values teachers and recognises the concerns around teacher workload. We are committed to working with COSLA and the teacher unions, through the Scottish Negotia…
30 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S6W-27078 by Natalie Don on 9 May 2024, whether "the data from that exercise" was submitted to the Scottish Government in June 2024 as anticipated in order to inform the Scottish Government's approach, and, if this is not the case, for what reason, and w…
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government has been working with AssistFM and Improvement Service to map existing breakfast provision across Scotland, including a survey to all primary and special schools to understand the scale and uptake of provision. A report with the findi…
11 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to tackle long ambulance turnaround times.
29 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the conclusions of the UK Parliament Education Committee regarding a consultation on a total ban on smartphones for under-16s and a statutory ban on mobile phone use in schools, what its position is on the committee's conclusions and any relevance that these may have in Scot…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The findings of the UK Parliament Education Committee are noted. It is recognised that the Committee's considerations and recommendations are rightly focussed on the interests of the UK Government and that the legalities around ‘banning’ mobile phones elsewhe…
27 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reconsidered collating information on the number of children who are “missing from education”, in light of its reported failure to do so to date.
21 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much money it has distributed to farmers to address any damage caused by recent flooding.
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the recorded causes of road traffic incidents at the Toll of Birness have been in the last 10 years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The two most common contributory factors for accidents within half-mile radius of A90 Toll of Birness junction between 1 January 2014 and 5 March 2024 junction include: 'Failed To Look Properly' (indicated for 55% of accidents) and 'Failed To Judge Other Pers…
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government at what time, or during what time periods, road traffic accidents, including all reported adverse incidents, have been recorded as having occurred at the Toll of Birness in the last 10 years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Personal injury accidents occurred at the following time periods at A90 Toll of Birness between 1 January 2014 and 4 May 2024. Transport Scotland only holds accident information which is provided to us by Police Scotland. Transport Scotland does not hold info…
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many adverse incidents have occurred at, or within a half mile radius of, the Toll of Birness in each year since 2010, including the period from January to end of May 2024.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland only holds accident information which is provided to us by Police Scotland. Transport Scotland does not hold information relating to damage only accidents or adverse incidents generally (i.e. not involving an injury). Since Amey took over …
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of attacks by dogs on people that have been committed by dogs in harnesses as opposed to with leads.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold data on whether dogs involved in incidents were wearing a harness or lead at the time of the incident.
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it logs and collates incidents of dog attacks in each local authority area to understand the extent of any problem.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not collate data on dog attacks broken down by local authority area. However, Public Health Scotland collects data provided by NHS Health Boards on the number of inpatient and day case admissions to hospital where a diagnosis of …
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research has been undertaken into whether dog harnesses are as effective at controlling aggressive dogs as leads.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: There are various research papers that that can be found online that are relevant in this area. This includes : Dog Pulling on the Leash: Effects of Restraint by a Neck Collar vs. a Chest Harness - PMC (nih.gov) . In addition, there are papers on the beha…
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consequences a dog might face where it attacks and physically injures a pedestrian.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: There are powers available under a range of legislation that can be used depending on the specific situation. This is ultimately a matter for those involved in enforcing the law to decide based on the facts and circumstances of each individual case. However,…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average reduction in journey times has been on each of the national train routes across Scotland in each year since 2016.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. The Scottish Government’s High Level Output Specification (HLOS) strategy requires Network Rail to take full advantage of maintenance and renewal works and timetable development processes to en…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding it has provided to ScotRail in each year since 2016.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is available online and can be found in the Transport Scotland’s annual accounts via the ‘Publications’ section of the Transport Scotland website, Publications | Transport Scotland .
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost was of the transfer of operations of ScotRail services from Abellio to public ownership.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10555 on 20 September 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commi…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many scheduled ScotRail train services were delayed by at least 15 minutes in financial year (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Abellio ScotRail for the year 2021-22 and for ScotRail Trains for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.