- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 24 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the answer to question S1W-11942 by Wendy Alexander on 16 March 2001 conforms with clause 1.1(d) of the Ministerial code regarding openness.
Answer
Yes.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 23 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve welfare standards in the pig industry.
Answer
The measures in our legislation to protect the welfare of pigs is among the strictest in the EU. I expect these measures to be strengthened further once EU legislation, at present in draft form, is adopted.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which public body has legal responsibility for the acts and omissions of the Scottish Criminal Records Office in relation to complaints and civil actions against (a) civilian employees and (b) police employees.
Answer
Legal responsibility for the acts and omissions of the civilian staff during the course of their work at the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) lies with the staff concerned and, in certain circumstances, could lie with their employers, the Strathclyde Joint Police Board. It would be for the individual claimant to determine whether the circumstances of the case are such that the employer may be vicariously liable for the acts or omissions of the members of staff.Responsibility for the acts or omissions of police constables engaged on central service at SCRO in terms of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 would lie with the individual constables and, in certain circumstances, could lie with the Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide the information sought by Iain McKie on behalf of Shirley McKie, most recently in Mr McKie's letter of 6 May 2001 to the Minister for Justice.
Answer
A reply to Mr Iain McKie's letter of 6 May 2001 issued on 21 May 2001.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Davidson on 21 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress the Lord Advocate is making regarding possible prosecutions consequent to the complaints against the Scottish Criminal Records Office by Ms Shirley McKie.
Answer
I refer to the letter the Lord Advocate sent to Mr Russell on 11 May. We will be in contact with him as soon as a decision has been reached by Crown Counsel.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to standardise the dates of Easter school holidays throughout Scotland.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-15194 on 11 May 2001.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 15 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has compared any schemes it has to assist teachers to purchase computers with those available in other parts of the United Kingdom and whether it will use any knowledge gained to amend its schemes if those elsewhere have a higher take up rate.
Answer
The Scottish Executive regularly monitors such developments in other parts of the UK. The Scottish Computers for Teachers scheme is available to all primary and secondary teachers, and the take-up rate over the first two tranches of around 18% of the teaching force appears to compare favourably with other schemes. However, we are currently revising our plans for the future and the success of the different schemes in operation elsewhere will be included in that review.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 15 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13224 by Sarah Boyack on 20 March 2001, when the survey of cycle training provision in schools will be completed and what action it intends to take in relation to any areas found to have low levels of training provision.
Answer
The survey is due for completion by the end of June. Its aim is to provide baseline information on levels of cycle training in Scottish schools. When it is available I will consider its implications fully.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 14 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received for teacher training courses in 1998, 1999 and 2000 for (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special educational needs teaching, broken down by institution.
Answer
The report (Supply of Teachers, Vol. 1 - Jan 2001) details the background to the current position on the collection of information relevant to teacher supply and outlining planned improvements to current methods. Copies of this report have been made available to committee members and placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 10751). The answer to your question for primary and secondary can be found at Annex C of the report.There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs and therefore no applications. A qualification in teaching children with special educational needs is an extension of the professional development of a teacher and is undertaken as in-service training.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 3 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions or guidance it gives to local authorities on placing requests from parents whose children will be five when starting school.
Answer
Guidance on this issue was issued to authorities on 16 January 2001 and is publicly available on request. A copy of the guidance has also been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
