Chamber and committees

Careers Scotland supportsthe career planning needs of individuals across Scotland. Professional Careers Advisersoffer impartial guidance and support to young people and are trained to recognisethe diversity of opportunities and to challenge stereotyping.

Careers Scotland’s “CareerBox” careers education tool was launched in 2004 and provides access to materialswhich develop research skills whereby young people can use ICT careers informationrelating to science opportunities. This information is detailed enough to give directguidance to young people in science and engineering. The resource is flexible, interactiveand supported by video clips and case studies which highlight role models who havechosen a STEM related career pathway. In addition, the Careers Scotland websitehas a section containing useful information on STEM related industries.

Education and careers opportunitiesin science have been promoted through a range of public science initiatives, furtherdetails of which are in published in A Science Strategy for Scotland, 2001: Progress Report, availableat:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/science/16607/5910.

The report highlights the “SmallGrants for Science” scheme launched by the Scottish Executive in 2003 to supportthe transition from primary to secondary school science, and the Careers ScotlandScience and Technology Matters initiative, announced in November 2005. “ScienceMatters” supports hands on STEM activity for pupils to engage with science, withthe twin aims of encouraging more young people into these subject areas, and improvingrates of progression into science careers. There are also a number of national projectsdelivered in partnership with industry including the Careers Scotland Space School for S4–S5 pupils, launched in 2002.

The Scottish Science CentresNetwork Strategy, published in December 2005, commits the science centres to strengtheningtheir existing links with key organisations to demonstrate more fully the linksbetween science and employment, complementing the work of Careers Scotland and othersin this field.

I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

The Solicitor General will attendCabinet when the Lord Advocate is not able to do so.

Information relating to the proceedingsof the Scottish Cabinet is considered exempt from disclosure under Sections 29 (a)and (b) and 30(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The Scottish Executive is committedto promoting science communication education. Whilst institutions are individuallyresponsible for the content and nature of courses on offer, there is evidence thatprogress is being made by a range of differenttraining providers, developing a number of options, including modules provided withinscience degrees; degrees focusing on science communication, and other communicationopportunities provided by bodies actively involved in complementary science education,including the Science Centres. The Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh and theEdinburgh International Science Festival provide training opportunities which includemodules within degrees and hands-on training placements. Information on the numbersof students enrolled on such courses is not held centrally. Further details canbe found in A Science Strategy for Scotland 2001:Progress Report,published February 2006, a copy of which is available on the web at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/science/16607/5910.

The tribunal was appointed bythe Secretary of State for Scotland on 18 February 1959 under the Tribunals of Inquiry(Evidence) Act 1921. Its remit was to inquire into the allegation of assault onJohn Waters by members of Caithness police on 7 December 1957.The report of the tribunal, chaired by Lord Sorn, was presented to the WestminsterParliament in April 1959 under Cmnd 718.

My officials asked FutureskillsScotland to investigate the supply and demand for scientists, engineers and mathematiciansin Scotland as part of its 2005-07 workplan. A project steering groupincluding representatives from the Scottish Executive, FutureSkills Scotland andthe Scottish Funding Council, is now directing the work. FSS expect to have theresults ready to pass to us by summer 2006. Further information is published in A Science Strategy for Scotland 2001:Progress Report, published February 2006, a copy of which is availableon the web at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/science/16607/5910.

These statements were preparedseparately but were subsequently shared to ensure that there was no duplicationnor omission.

The Scottish Executive can confirmthat neither it, Scottish Enterprise nor any other Executive agency or non-departmentalpublic body is, so far as the Executive is aware, presently undertaking a reviewof Local Economic Forums nor has plans to do so.

Information relating to the proceedingsof the Scottish Cabinet is considered exempt from disclosure under sections 29 (a)and (b) and 30(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Question S2W-22402 on 10 Februaryasked, among other things, “whether consultants were involved” in a review of LocalEconomic Forums. As indicated in the answers to questions S2W-22402 and S2W-23619on 13 March 2006, the Executive is not reviewing the existence of Local EconomicForums.

The term “this does not involveconsultants” was intended to make clear that consultants are not being used by the Executive in any capacity relating to Local Economic Forums.