Liam Kerr

21 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has provided any messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 04 December 2023. 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-committ…

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Sco…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 4 December 2023. 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-committ…

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Sco…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 4 December 2023. 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-committ…

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, o…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006, and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants. As a result…

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, o…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 4 December 2023. 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-committ…

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Sco…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 4 December 2023. 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-committ…

15 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22201 by Jenny Gilruth on 14 November 2023, when it expects to report on whether it or local authorities will meet the cost to "update when necessary" the laptops, Chromebooks and tablets that are given to school children in Scotland, and at what co…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21st November, the £13 million originally allocated for 2023-24 has been announced as part of the savings required to reach a balanced budget. We are now considering all options for the device commitment, including …

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22204 by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2023, whether it has given local authorities any extra funding to facilitate (a) the purchase of, (b) the replacement of and (c) training in the use and procurement of the free laptops and other digital devices.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21 st November, the £13 million originally allocated for 2023-24 has been announced as part of the savings required to reach a balanced budget. We are now considering all options for the device commitment, including…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22541 by Jenny Gilruth on 14 November 2023, when it anticipates that the information will be available.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The requested information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under Bib. Number 64646.

10 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the next round of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund will be announced.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government will confirm the final position for the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in 23/24 in the coming weeks.

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland’s universities will receive the full £5.8 million in regional innovation funding, as announced by the UK Government on 3 October 2023 as Scotland’s share of the UK-wide funding for the initiative, which universities in England are receiving directly via Research England.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that universities play in supporting innovation and contributing to economic and societal challenges, as we recently recognised in our National Innovation Strategy. Following the UK Government’s announcement …

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what process its Innovation Funding Review will use to ensure that it is inclusive of the views of institutions and organisations currently in receipt of research and innovation funding.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In developing the actions within Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy, including our Innovation Funding Review, we engaged extensively with a diverse and extensive range of institutions, organisations and stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem. …

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether work has begun on its Innovation Funding Review, in light of its National Innovation Strategy stating that this will be completed by the end of 2023.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes, work on the Innovation Funding review, announced in the National Innovation Strategy, is already underway with our enterprise agencies. We are working with stakeholders to announce a consolidated innovation investment programme for 2024-2025. It is our …

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which bodies have been contacted or consulted regarding the development of a national digital academy.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. Initial conversations have been held within the National e-Learning Offer Working Group (which includes representatives from the RICs, EIS, e-Sgoil, WestOS and Education Sco…

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants are currently working on the development of a national digital academy.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. A core team of four officials within Education Scotland are currently working together on the development of options. Other officials within Education Scotland and Scottish G…

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has carried out and (b) is undertaking any progress reports on the development of a national digital academy, and, if so, where they are published.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. Accordingly, specific formal progress reports have not been produced or published.

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22203 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how much of the £140 million to support the roll-out of digital devices in the Capital Spending Review has been allocated to date; for what reason…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The £140 million indicated in the Capital Spending Review was for the years 2023-24 to 2025-26. As you will be aware, the current Budget allocates £13m of capital funding for 2023-24. As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21 November, that £13 million h…

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22502 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what the total cost has been to date of its development of a national digital academy, and for what reason it did not provide this information in …

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Further to the response to question S6W-22502 on 8 November 2023, I would clarify that there have been no costs incurred to date on the development of a National Digital Academy. As set out, Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National…

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22202 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how much of the £13 million allocated in its Budget 2023-24 has been allocated to date; which local authorities have received funding; what propor…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21 November, the? £13 million originally allocated in 2023-24 has been announced as part of the savings required to reach a balanced budget. We remain committed to improving digital access in schools and work is ong…

7 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding its north east pilot not to investigate crimes if that is deemed a proportionate response by the service.

6 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22060 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 November 2023, whether it has measured the impact and outcomes of the 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy prior to considering revising it; if so, how it measured this, and where the results of any measurements ha…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy set out a series of national actions and local expectations to support local authorities in the development of their local digital learning and teaching offer. As set out in the strategy Education Scotland have …

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will fully implement the provision of free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has committed to develop plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children. Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We are work…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date work on introducing free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils must begin for the scheme to be introduced before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We are working with local authorities and key stakeholders to better understand and map existing provision. This will help us develop a p…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many probationer teachers have not completed their probationary year in each year since 2016.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. The Teacher Induction Scheme is administered by the General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS). As such, the GTCS is best placed to advise on how many newly qualified teachers are eligible each year to underta…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional pupils have accessed free school breakfasts since the beginning of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We do not collect national-level data associated with this provision.

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on introducing free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is a currently a mixed delivery of breakfast provision across Scotland with a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We have conducted provisional modelling of breakfast provision and have begun work with local authoritie…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the ongoing annual cost of providing free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils will be.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We are working with local authorities and key stakeholders to better understand and map existing provision. This will help us develop a p…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the infrastructure cost will be for the implementation of free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils, and which body will be responsible for meeting any such cost.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We are working with local authorities and key stakeholders to better understand and map existing provision. This will help us develop a p…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has committed for the introduction of free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is not providing specific ring-fenced funding for breakfasts in schools in this financial year. However, a number of local authorities use Scottish Government funding to support breakfast provision in their local area in partnership wi…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21484 by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023, whether it plans to exercise its convening power to assist employers and trade unions to work together to improve industrial relations in the college sector; if so, when it plans to do so, and what the reasons …

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has continued to use its convening power to meet both trade unions and employers to urge continued dialogue and collaboration over a range of workforce issues, including the ongoing pay negotiations. However, the Scottish Government ha…