Chamber and committees

NHS Lothian has received its fair share of funding. In 2002-03 NHS Lothian will receive record investment of over £754 million, a 6.8% increase on 2001-02. Distribution of this allocation is a matter of local negotiation.As mentioned in the answer given to question S1W-27063, the Scottish Executive Health Department is constantly monitoring and reviewing West Lothian Healthcare Trust's financial position against the agreed recovery plan. The trust's financial position remains in line with the recovery plan. The Scottish Executive Health Department, NHS Lothian and the trust continue to work together to deliver the recovery plan.

The information requested is set out in the table:Stage P1-P3 Single Stage Classes in Publicly Funded Primary Schools with exactly 30 pupils¹

	Number
Scotland	484
Aberdeen City	9
Aberdeenshire	3
Angus	8
Argyll and Bute	2
Clackmannanshire	11
Dumfries and Galloway	6
Dundee City	32
East Ayrshire	22
East Dunbartonshire	14
East Lothian	10
East Renfrewshire	22
Edinburgh City	50
Eilean Siar	0
Falkirk	26
Fife	21
Glasgow City	47
Highland	10
Inverclyde	9
Midlothian	5
Moray	6
North Ayrshire	21
North Lanarkshire	28
Orkney Islands	0
Perth and Kinross	9
Renfrewshire	26
Scottish Borders	3
Shetland Islands	0
South Ayrshire	12
South Lanarkshire	45
Stirling	4
West Dunbartonshire	6
West Lothian	17

Note:1. Source: September 2001 School Census.

Information on class composition is only available centrally from the school census, which does not take place at the start of the school term. Information on the number and percentage of P1 pupils in composite classes for the week of the school census is set out in the table:Percentage of P1 Pupils in Composite Classes in Publicly Funded Primary Schools 2001¹

	Number of P1 pupils in composite classes	Total number of P1 pupils	% of P1 pupils in composite classes
Scotland	9,089	56,528	16.1%
Aberdeen City	119	1,906	6.2%
Aberdeenshire	793	2,644	30.0%
Angus	282	1,210	23.3%
Argyll and Bute	326	931	35.0%
Clackmannanshire	57	573	9.9%
Dumfries and Galloway	649	1,612	40.3%
Dundee City	108	1,565	6.9%
East Ayrshire	225	1,334	16.9%
East Dunbartonshire	90	1,319	6.8%
East Lothian	133	1,143	11.6%
East Renfrewshire	48	1,214	4.0%
Edinburgh City	203	3,952	5.1%
Eilean Siar	231	283	81.6%
Falkirk	151	1,691	8.9%
Fife	603	3,989	15.1%
Glasgow City	654	6,140	10.7%
Highland	875	2,336	37.5%
Inverclyde	75	931	8.1%
Midlothian	79	972	8.1%
Moray	288	1,027	28.0%
North Ayrshire	248	1,616	15.3%
North Lanarkshire	427	4,000	10.7%
Orkney Islands	75	227	33.0%
Perth and Kinross	396	1,436	27.6%
Renfrewshire	124	2,061	6.0%
Scottish Borders	370	1,152	32.1%
Shetland Islands	99	263	37.6%
South Ayrshire	205	1,238	16.6%
South Lanarkshire	647	3,483	18.6%
Stirling	175	981	17.8%
West Dunbartonshire	88	1,129	7.8%
West Lothian	246	2,170	11.3%

Note:1. Source: September 2001 School Census.

The information requested is contained in Table 30 of Statistical Bulletin number Edn/B1/2002/03 covering the Summary Results of the September 2001 School Census, published on 20 June 2002 by the Scottish Executive. A copy of the Bulletin is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22064).

The information requested is set out in the table:Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils who are taught in a Composite Class in Publicly Funded Primary Schools¹

	% of P1 - P3 pupils taught in composite classes
Scotland	23.1%
Aberdeen City	11.5%
Aberdeenshire	35.3%
Angus	28.2%
Argyll and Bute	43.3%
Clackmannanshire	14.6%
Dumfries and Galloway	44.2%
Dundee City	10.8%
East Ayrshire	20.8%
East Dunbartonshire	13.9%
East Lothian	17.8%
East Renfrewshire	6.0%
Edinburgh City	11.1%
Eilean Siar	79.1%
Falkirk	14.7%
Fife	23.9%
Glasgow City	19.0%
Highland	45.5%
Inverclyde	17.8%
Midlothian	17.9%
Moray	34.7%
North Ayrshire	19.0%
North Lanarkshire	22.5%
Orkney Islands	32.1%
Perth and Kinross	32.0%
Renfrewshire	8.5%
Scottish Borders	40.5%
Shetland Islands	43.5%
South Ayrshire	20.1%
South Lanarkshire	27.3%
Stirling	24.4%
West Dunbartonshire	16.7%
West Lothian	22.2%

Note:1. Source: September 2001 School Census.

The Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 as amended by the Schools (Scotland) Code (Amendment No. 1) Regulations 1972 established minimum staffing levels. Although this is still in force it has been overtaken by recent legislation on class sizes in primary 1 to 3 stages and teachers' conditions of service agreements on class sizes.

The Scottish Executive has not carried out research into the effect of composite classes on attainment as such. There has been some international research into multi-grade classes that suggests that such classes have no consistent effect upon attainment but there is no consensus on this issue. We intend as part of the Scottish Executive research programme to conduct research into the effect of class organisation on attainment in 2003 and that project will also consider the effect of class size and composite classes.

I understand that the trust has already investigated this matter thoroughly. I am aware of the outcome and see no basis to take further action.

The Executive has been kept informed of developments in this case. I see no need at this point to undertake further investigation.

Because contracts of this nature are between trusts and the company, the Executive has no power to seek compensation directly. However, I expect that any compensation properly due from McKesson Corporation to be pursued.