Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-29253

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills plans to meet the STUC to discuss its proposal for ensuring that the City of Glasgow College Trade Union Education Centre remains open.

Question reference: S6W-29250

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken over the Parliament's 2024 summer recess to secure the future of the City of Glasgow College Trade Union Education Centre.

Operational decisions on course delivery are a matter for individual colleges. I did however, write to the Principal of City of Glasgow College on 8 July to encourage continued constructive dialogue between the College and its trade union partners to find ways to keep the centre open.

The Scottish Government welcomes the new partnership agreement reached between the College and the Trade Union Congress to safeguard the delivery of trade union education at the City of Glasgow College.

Question reference: S6W-29186

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many newly qualified teachers completed their probationary period in 2024, and, of the teachers that completed their probation, how many gained permanent employment.

Statistics on the number of teachers in a Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) post at the time of the annual teacher census in September are available in Table 1.6a of the teacher census supplementary statistics:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/

Statistics on the number of teachers in a permanent post in the year following their probation are available in Figure 16 of Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland:

https://www.gov.scot/collections/school-education-statistics/#summarystatisticsforschoolsinscotland

Statistics on the 2023-24 TIS probationer cohort will be published in December 2024.

Question reference: S6W-29439

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it had in the SQA's approach to the exams appeals process in 2024.

Operational delivery of National Qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) as the awarding body for Scotland. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, SQA operates at arm’s length to ministers and is responsible for its own operational decisions, including appeals processes.

The approach to National Qualification appeals in 2024 is the same as last year and is the same approach that, discounting the pandemic years, has been in place since 2014 in Scotland. It is comparable with other appeals services in the rest of the UK and internationally – but with free and direct access for learners.

SQA’s decision to revert to an enhanced version of the established appeals approach in 2023 was informed by an extensive evaluation of the 2022 approach, and engagement with the National Qualifications Group, of which Scottish Government was part, as well as a wide range of stakeholders - including teachers, parents and young people. Decisions in 2024 were, similarly, informed by evaluation of the 2023 awarding arrangements.

Drawing on the views of stakeholders, the SQA (and Qualifications Scotland once formed) will continue to evaluate the awarding processes to inform decisions going forward.

Question reference: S6W-29437

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Gaelic-medium education schools regarding SQA reform.

The Gaelic medium education (GME) sector has distinct development needs in qualifications, teacher support and continuity in secondary education. At all stages, officials in the Gaelic and Scots team have aimed to keep the GME sector aware of developments and encouraged their response to consultations. Most recently, I met with CLAS (Professional Association for Gaelic Secondary School Teachers) on Thursday 12 September.

The replacement of the SQA and changes to our qualifications and assessment approaches have been informed by extensive stakeholder engagement including stakeholders from Gaelic communities. This engagement took place during the Muir Review, the National Discussion on Scottish Education, the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment and consultations on the Scottish Languages and Education (Scotland) Bills.

Question reference: S6W-29440

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the SQA's consultation with young people in relation to the exam results appeals process for (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Question reference: S6W-29193

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any deeming of wages of college staff who take action short of a strike.

I welcome the recent pay deal agreed between college employers and EIS-FELA, which brings an end to strike action across the college sector.

I am aware that local agreements are in place, as part of the pay offer, to repay any deductions of pay to staff once outstanding results have been processed.

I welcome this move and hope this now brings this long running period of industrial action to a close.

Question reference: S6W-29287

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its pledge of £300 million to tackle NHS waiting lists over the next three years, of which £30 million has been allocated to date, and whether any reduction to this sum of money is planned.

Significant activity is already underway following the £30 million investment to target backlogs, announced in the spring. This will see around 12,000 new outpatient appointments, around 12,000 inpatient procedures and over 40,000 diagnostic procedures delivered.

The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing waiting times year-on-year across the NHS as set out in the Policy Prospectus. We will continue to work with all NHS boards to maximise current resources and productivity.

Future funding for commitments will be considered as part of the 2025-26 budget process that will allocate resources to the Government’s priorities of the day.

Question reference: S6O-03691

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how its procurement powers can encourage the availability of healthy, local food.

Question reference: S6W-29438

Current Status: Withdrawn