- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 20 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school attendance officers or other staff, whose responsibilities include following up cases of truancy and recommending prosecution or any other further action, were employed by each local authority as of 1 May 1997, 1 May 1999 and 1 May 2000.
Answer
This information is not collected centrally.However discipline-related issues are a top priority for me. The Discipline Task Group is looking at the role and remit of staff with responsibility for attendance.
- 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 Wendy Alexander on 20 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to the Scottish Executive of teacher training for (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special education needs and (d) Gaelic medium teaching in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Answer
The following table shows the main teaching grant allocated in support of initial teacher training of primary and secondary teachers by the Scottish Higher education Funding Council (SHEFC) for academic sessions 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01:Initial Teacher Training at Scottish Higher Education Institutions
| Grant Allocated by SHEFC | 1998-99 £ million | 1999-2000 £ million | 2000-01 £ million |
(a) Primary | 10.6 | 10.4 | 10.9 |
(b) Secondary | 8.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 |
Total | 19.3 | 20.0 | 20.5 |
Source: SHEFC. There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs. Gaelic-medium is not a separately identified funding subject group.This does not take account of student support or payment of tuition fees by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 20 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to questions S1W-12571, S1W-12983, S1W-13517 and S1W-13716 lodged on 18 January, 1 February, 16 February and 27 February 2001 respectively.
Answer
Substantive answers for these questions were provided on the following dates:S1W-12571 18 April 2001S1W-12983 20 April 2001S1W-13517 10 April 2001S1W-13716 19 April 2001
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for developing teacher training to meet the demand for new teachers arising out of the McCrone settlement.
Answer
We have consulted with all of the main stakeholders on the scope and shape of the review of initial teacher education which the agreement asks the Executive to take forward. I announced the details of the review on Thursday 15 March 2001. Details are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. We are working with those involved in teacher workforce planning to refine estimates of the number of additional teachers who would be required in future, taking account of the agreement on teachers' conditions and pay and other factors, such as the trends in pupils numbers; and to put in place the necessary steps to recruit and train them.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11262 by Mr Jack McConnell on 1 March 2001, how many teachers took part in the New Opportunities Fund ICT training and what conclusions it has drawn or expects to draw from the 27 evaluation questionnaire responses received between 1 April 2000 and 28 March 2001.
Answer
The latest take-up data provided by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) confirmed that 11,927 teachers and school librarians had signed up for the programme in Scotland at 31 December 2000. Figures from NOF are based on returns made by approved training providers. Data for the next period are due in mid May 2001.The 27 evaluation questionnaire responses in Scotland represent too small a statistical sample from which to draw any firm and accurate conclusions about the training. The NOF is currently looking at options for encouraging greater take-up of the evaluation questionnaire.In addition, HM Inspectorate of Education is currently conducting a Scottish electronic survey of trainees' views on the quality of the training as part of its remit to provide quality assurance of the programme in Scotland, and a UK-wide Aspect Report will be produced within a few months.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2001
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Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive what working arrangements it is planning with the British Council to take advantage of the plans for eight regional offices in Germany to ensure that its policy of building relationships with the German lander can be progressed.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- 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 12 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes for assisting teachers to purchase computers are presently in operation, what plans it has for continuing and developing such schemes and what take up there has been in terms of numbers and cost in the past twelve months.
Answer
The Computers for Teachers scheme is operated by Learning and Teaching Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive. All GTC registered teachers in publicly funded primary and secondary schools, including publicly funded special schools and units, are eligible to apply for a rebate of £200 against the cost of a modern computer. The payment is a taxable benefit, but the Scottish Executive has made arrangements to settle the tax and National Insurance centrally. No liability will fall on the individual teachers.
In the first phase of the scheme, which finished in March 2000, 4,003 teachers were supported at a total cost of £1,146,324.
The second phase has just concluded and final payments are being made. 6,133 teachers have been supported in this phase, at an estimated cost of £1,711,979.A third phase is planned for the 2001-02 financial year.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 10 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2955 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 15 February 2001, whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any correspondence between it, Scottish Opera and the Scottish Arts Council regarding the need for #1 million of additional funding for Scottish Opera in the current or next financial year.
Answer
No, the background to the future funding of Scottish Opera was set out in Sam Galbraith's answer to question S1W-14238 on 16 March.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 9 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Museum Council with regard to the impact of the current foot and mouth outbreak on visits to museums.
Answer
The Scottish Museums Council is keeping the Executive informed about the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on museum visits.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 9 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it is seeking from the museum and heritage sector with regard to the impact of the current foot and mouth outbreak on visitor numbers and visitor spend.
Answer
The Economic Impact Group is collecting information from all sources, including museums and galleries, to enable the Executive to provide reliable estimates of the medium to long-term effects of the outbreak.
