Jamie Greene

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will re-enter Scotland in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study.

Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to ensuring that the burden placed on schools by central government is appropriate and proportionate. One way of achieving this is by rationalising Scotland's engagement with international surveys like PISA, PIRLS and TIMSS. Whilst TIMSS is a…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all primary pupils can access STEM education.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes in the sciences provide a framework to help young people develop a secure knowledge and understanding of the big ideas and concepts of the sciences. Despite restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of COVID-…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the resolution of the Parliament on motion S5M-24137 on 17 February 2021, whether it will separate the inspection and policy functions of Education Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: It is important to note that the Scottish Government, not Education Scotland, is responsible for policy on education. Education Scotland is the national improvement agency for education. Education Scotland’s status as an Executive Agency means that it operate…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the STEM Bursary Scheme.

Answer · John Swinney: The STEM bursary scheme, which offers a bursary of £20,000 to encourage career changers to train as secondary school teachers in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computing Science, Technical Education and Home Economics, was introduced in 2018. Initially 100 …

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will expand the provision of free school meals to all primary pupils in 2021-22.

Answer · John Swinney: Free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country - ensuring that children are fed and ready to engage in learning. They are also a valued support for family budgets - by providing a saving of approximately £40…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on class sizes in primary schools.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on primary school class sizes is collected annually in the September Pupil Census. Statistics on class sizes from the 2020 census were published in Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland 2020 , available here: https://www.gov.scot/publication…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a national tutoring scheme.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that local authorities and schools are best placed to understand local need and develop bespoke education recovery offerings based on specific circumstances. We continue to support and enable education recovery work at a loca…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make routine asymptomatic COVID-19 testing available in all stand-alone nursery settings.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35275 on? 3 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic on pupils’ education.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government published an Equity Audit on 13 January 2021, which is available at Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact of school building closures - equity audit - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . The report provides a range of evidence to further our understa…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a draft of the OECD Review of Curriculum for Excellence within the next two months.

Answer · John Swinney: The publication of any report by the OECD is a matter for the OECD and is not for the Scottish Government to determine. This independent review is being conducted by their own analysts and international experts. Their approach to considering evidence, engagin…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by the Commission on School Reform that "a large number of optional subjects have experienced a decline in uptake. There has thus been a distortion of the curriculum as a whole. There may, indeed, now be a case for stipulating a minimum extent of bread…

Answer · John Swinney: It is a matter for each school and local authority in Scotland to plan a Senior Phase curriculum that takes account of local circumstances and meets the needs and aspirations of learners. The Scottish Government commissioned the OECD to undertake an Indepen…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a target to improve Scotland’s score on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey and, if so, what (a) this is and (b) date it has set to achieve it.

Answer · John Swinney: PISA sits alongside national sources of data and evidence to allow a holistic view of the Scottish education system and the experiences of young people. The Scottish Government has not set a specific target for improving PISA scores, other than to seek to imp…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers are in post, and how this compares with May 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on the number of teachers in posts was collected in the September 2020 school staff census and were published in December in the 2020 the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/summary-statis…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact has been of disruption and cancellations on the Arran ferry route since 2016.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the provision of safe and reliable lifeline ferry services for the economy of Arran. Transport Scotland has not undertaken what the economic impact has been of disruption and cancellations on the Arran ferr…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the estimated cost of constructing the Glen Sannox and vessel 802, and by what date each vessel will be operational.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The estimated completion costs for the vessels is unchanged since last estimate at £110.3m - £114.3m. The delivery of 801 is planned for the range April 2022 to June 2022 and the delivery of 802 is planned for December 2022 to February 2023. Tim Hair, Turna…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teacher vacancies there have been in (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Arran in each year since 2016.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on teacher vacancies in North Ayrshire from 2016 to 2019 can be found at: Teacher vacancy survey 2016 to 2019 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) Information on Arran only is not available. A survey was not undertaken in 2020 due to the expectation that…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the MV (a) Isle of Arran and (b) Caledonian Isles has been taken out of service for repairs or maintenance since 2016; what work was carried out, and what the estimated cost was.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The following table details when the vessels the MV Isle of Arran and MV Caledonian Isles has been taken out of service for repairs or maintenance since 2016. Vessel No. of Times Taken Out of Service since 2016 Cost Reason MV Isle of Arran 10 £252,058…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent per pupil on schools in (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Arran in each year since 2016.

Answer · John Swinney: Total gross revenue expenditure on education per school pupil in the North Ayrshire Local Authority is presented in the following table, at primary and secondary school level. Figures for Arran are included in the North Ayrshire Local Authority total and are…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 13 January 2021 (Official Report, c.17), whether it will provide a breakdown of the £160 million that the cabinet secretary said he had already committed for education recovery since the start of the COVID-19 …

Answer · John Swinney: Overall, we have committed over £375 million as part of a long-term programme of recovery. This includes £160m, which can be broken down as follows:£80m for teachers and other support staff£50m to help offset the additional costs required to support safe, op…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a statutory requirement for (a) schools and (b) school staff to be politically neutral.

Answer · John Swinney: The Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended identifies a number of politically restricted posts within a local authority. The restrictions take the form of terms and conditions that are deemed to be incorporated into those officers' terms of appoint…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of all funding committed specifically towards assisting pupils in catching up on lost learning.

Answer · John Swinney: We know that Covid is affecting the learning of all children and young people, and we have published an Equity Audit examining the particular impact on children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This government is also investing £182m in the Sc…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the economic growth figure for (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Arran has been in each year since 2016, broken down by quarter.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are no quarterly economic growth statistics for (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Arran. The Office for National Statistics produces annual GDP statistics for local authorities. The latest release can be found at https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticpr…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the unemployment rate has been in (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Arran in each year since 2016.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Model-Based estimates of unemployment levels and rates based on the Annual Population Survey and Claimant Count information are published https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/ . Model-based unemployment estimates are not available below local authority level, and the…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many written complaints have (a) it and (b) CalMac received regarding the Arran ferry service since 2016.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has identified in the region of 500 pieces of correspondence received between 2016 and January 2021 relating to the provision of ferry services provided by CalMac on the West coast of Scotland. However, it is not feasible to ascertain …

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Arran ferry service has been cancelled between 2016, broken down by (a) date and (b) reason.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There are two ferry routes serving Arran, Ardrossan – Brodick and Claonaig - Lochranza. There was 19,537 scheduled sailings on the Ardrossan – Brodick service of which 1,571 were cancelled with 173 additional sailings provided, resulting in total of 18,139 s…

15 Feb 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what additional and urgent measures will be taken to ensure that pupils catch up on learning lost as a result of the disruption to their education.

12 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence on vaccination it plans to provide to people who are receiving their COVID-19 vaccination.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A number of resources have been published and provided to people who are receiving their COVID-19 vaccination. Information on the vaccination can be found on NHS Inform ; this information is also available in British Sign Language (BSL), audio, other langua…

11 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the number of pupils who are still unable to access remote learning through digital devices at home.

Answer · John Swinney: We have invested £25m to support digital inclusion, which to date has delivered over 63,000 devices and almost 12,000 connectivity packages. In total, over 70,000 individuals will benefit from this investment. In addition, we have made a further £45m availab…

10 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will allocate any Barnett consequentials arising from the announcement by the UK Government of an additional £3.5 billion funding to deal with unsafe cladding.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are seeking detail from HM Treasury on any consequential funding along with detail in relation to the planned tax and levy as a result of the UK Government’s recent announcement. I will set out a sustainable path forward next month and I hope by that time…

10 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the draft bill for an independence referendum announced in its Programme for Government for 2020-21.