Oliver Mundell

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the total number of pupils have left primary school functionally illiterate with a reading age of below nine and a half years, in each year since 2017.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) data for 2022-23 showed record levels of attainment in literacy with 73% of primary school pupils achieving the expected Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) level for literacy, the highest figure since record…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has compared the Scottish National Standardised Assessments Curriculum for Excellence assessment level results with the equivalent teacher-derived Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels for each year since 2017.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not compare or analyse outcomes data from the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland against Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels data, as these each have a distinct purpose and should not be compared directly. …

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the total number of pupils have not completed the Scottish National Standardised Assessments and National Standardised Assessments for Scotland assessment questions for their year group, in each year since 2017.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The percentage of the estimated cohort who did not complete the SNSA assessments in each year since 2017 is detailed in the following table. Academic Year 17-18 18-19 19-20 20-21 21-22 22-23 P1 6% 11% 90% 21% 19% 13% P4 4% 4% 57% 6% 7% 5%…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish National Standardised Assessments and National Standardised Assessments for Scotland reportedly do not include a calculation of pupil reading age, in light of it being recommended during specification meetings in 2015 that a functional reading age test for P7 pup…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: When the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland were first being developed, it was agreed in consultation with Scottish literacy experts that the reading assessments should be based on specific organisers within the Curriculum for Excellence – these b…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how long Scottish National Standardised Assessments and National Standardised Assessments for Scotland data is retained in a pupil’s file.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: NSA data is retained for the duration of a pupil’s interaction with the school system, in order to ensure that school and local authority based longitudinal analysis of individuals’ assessment history is supported. When learners leave the Scottish school sys…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the AlphaPlus annual report for 2022-23 regarding the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland will be published.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The National Standardised Assessments for Scotland - National Report (2022-23) is currently being drafted by the assessment platform supplier and quality assured by the Scottish Government and will be published shortly.

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason ACER UK has not produced a Scottish National Standardised Assessments annual report for (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22, and, if it is the case that the Scottish Government received the data for these years, whether it has conducted its own analysis.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: National level reports on the NSA were not commissioned in 2019-20 or 2020-21, due to Covid-19 related disruption. The National Report was also not commissioned in 2021-22, as the handover process from the phase one SNSA supplier (ACER), to the current phase …

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who took the decision to not automatically provide a copy of Scottish National Standardised Assessments pupil assessment reports to the pupil and their parent(s), and for what reason this decision was taken.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I am advised that this decision was taken jointly by the Scottish Government and Education Scotland when the assessments were introduced in 2017. This position fits within a wider policy approach, guided by Education Scotland, around discussing assessment out…

30 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been prescribed cannabis-based medicines in Scotland to date.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Prescription numbers for Cannabis Based products for Medicinal use (CBPMs) are not collected by the Scottish Government.  

30 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve access to cannabis-based medicines to NHS patients.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There are three Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal use (CBPMs) available on the NHS in Scotland to treat specific conditions. These are: Nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, as an add-on treatment for adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting;Sati…

30 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of private prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Private prescription numbers for Cannabis Based products for Medicinal use (CBPMs) are not collected by the Scottish Government.  

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have the flexibility to allow three-year-olds to take up a place at a local authority nursery after the term has started.

Answer · Natalie Don: Eligible 2 year olds and all 3 year olds are eligible for funded early learning and childcare from the beginning of the first term after the child’s 2nd or 3rd birthday. Local authorities have discretionary powers under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to pr…

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action Transport Scotland is taking to update signage on the A74(M) to include Langholm.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland carried out studies last year to assess the possibility of including Langholm on the existing A74(M) signage. As the motorway signs in question are relatively new, extremely large and expensive to replace, it was felt the most appropriate w…

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the bus network in rural Scotland, particularly at (a) night and (b) the weekend.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The majority of services in Scotland are operated on a commercial basis by private bus companies. Under the Transport Act 1985, where there is a social need local transport authorities can provide subsidy for services that are not provided on a commercial bas…

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that bus travel is affordable for fare-paying passengers travelling to access employment, education and training.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The bus system was re-regulated by the UK Government in the 1980s and is primarily operated by private bus operators. The Scottish Government continues to support the bus industry through the Network Support Grant. The purpose of the financial support provide…

19 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protection is available to victims of domestic abuse when harassment and exclusion orders expire.

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has undertaken of any online mental health support and resources available to school pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government. We support our local authority partners with £16 million in funding to ensure that every secondary school has access to counselling services. Al…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the effectiveness of current handover practices between community midwives and health visitors.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The formal transfer of care from a midwife to a health visitor will usually happen between 10-14 days after birth. Scotland's Universal Health Visiting Pathway (UHVP) also directs health visitors to utilise the antenatal contact (between 32-34 weeks of pregna…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the NHS perinatal treatment period to two years.

Answer · Maree Todd: Over the last 4 years we have seen a big expansion in specialist perinatal mental health services in Scotland so that all 14 Health Boards now have specialist perinatal mental health services to support women and babies. We have also developed enhanced Mother…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to offering school teaching staff access to school counsellors, in light of similar provisions being implemented in Wales.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We value our teachers and education professionals and are committed to understanding their needs and providing them with the right support. Since October 2020 we have invested more than £2 million specifically in supporting wellbeing in the education workforc…

5 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider carrying out an analysis of the potential impact of renewable energy and the associated infrastructure on farmland and food production in Dumfriesshire.

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that affordable, reliable and patient-centred hospital transport services are available for residents in Dumfries and Galloway who are receiving treatment outwith their NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government expects that most patients will be seen and treated locally, where possible and appropriate, based on clinical need and operational effectiveness. It may not always be possible for Health Boards to provide access locally for all patien…

7 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to maximise the number of children and young people with cancer and their families accessing the Young Patients Family Fund by targeting those who are eligible for, but not currently accessing, the Fund.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland. Posters and leaflets to promote the Fund are available in every Health Board and we…

7 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to see a reduction in the waiting times for Child Disability Payment experienced by families of children with health conditions, including those with cancer, and what efforts are being made to reduce waiting times.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland know some people have waited too long for a Child Disability Payment decision to be made, including some of those with cancer. Urgent improvement action has been taken by Social Security Scotland to speed up processing times. The late…

7 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts have been made to improve the process of collecting supporting information for Child Disability Payment applications.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The way Social Security Scotland delivers disability benefits is fundamentally different to the UK – people are treated with dignity, fairness and respect. A significant change is that Social Security Scotland will collect information to support someone's ap…

7 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that ADHD medication cannot be provided on a serial prescription through the Chronic Medication Service.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Care and Review (M:CR) service replaced the Chronic Medication Service in all community pharmacies in February 2021. Patients who are registered for M:CR can receive serial prescriptions for their regular repeat medicines in agreement with their GP prescriber…

30 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to third sector organisations in Dumfriesshire to tackle inequalities and support disabled people and people with additional support needs, including supporting them into the workplace.

30 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides to local authorities to help support care experienced young people.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government’s policy towards spending by local authorities is to allow them the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, most funding is provided by means of a block grant. Local authorities are responsible for managing their own budg…

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between Scottish Forestry and Scottish Woodlands Ltd regarding new planting in the Canonbie/Langholm area, and how many hectares of planting have been discussed in principle across all planned projects in this area.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Forestry follows the published Woodland Creation Application Guidance process when dealing with forestry agents and applicants. In line with this process, Scottish Forestry has held pre-application discussions with Scottish Woodlands in relation to…

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding changes in land use from farmland to commercial forestry, and how many hectares of farmland have changed their use to commercial forestry in each of the last five years.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government’s policy and approach regarding woodland planting on agricultural land is based on the findings and recommendations of the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group, which were accepted by Ministers in 2013. This policy is reflected in publis…