Chamber and committees

Raising attainment for all and closing the attainment gap between children who are most and least advantaged are key priorities for the Scottish Government. International and inspection evidence shows that the most telling conditions for raising attainment are: continuously improving learning and teaching; and a high quality teaching workforce supported by good leadership. Curriculum for Excellence is our platform for improving learning and teaching by providing more coherent and flexible learning, aimed at raising standards, improving knowledge and developing skills for each and every young person. The Scottish Government is also working to ensure that teachers and school leaders have the right skills and experience in the right numbers to deliver improved outcomes for all children and young people, including those who are most disadvantaged.

This Government’s approach is to tackle the long term drivers of poverty through early intervention and prevention. As outlined in the Equality Statement published alongside the budget, much of the spending is targeted at people who are vulnerable to poverty and/or living in places of high deprivation.

For example, the retention of key universal policies, free prescriptions, free higher education, and the council tax freeze, all benefit households on lower incomes. The commitment of £272 million during this parliamentary term to the Early Years Change Fund will deliver prevention and early intervention at a local level, including in relation to the effects of poverty; and in total we are spending around a quarter of a billion pounds over the spending review period on fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

This Government is clear that improving the early years experience in Scotland is key to improving outcomes for children and their families. The Save the Children's publication, Thrive at Five: Comparative Child Development at School Entry Age reinforces the importance of our commitment to early intervention in the early years.

Subject to the consideration of the Children and Young People Bill consultation responses, the Government intends that the Bill contains proposals to define wellbeing for children and young people and a duty to report on outcomes. We are discussing with agencies and the Care Inspectorate how the wellbeing outcomes might be measured and will consider the Save the Children methodology in that context.

Scotland will receive approximately £1.5 bn between 2007 and 2013 directly for the Structural, Rural Development and Fisheries Funds. In addition it will receive direct support for farmers to the value of £500 million per annum. These funds support economic development and sustainability in Scotland, through funding for example improved skills and training, biodiversity, research and development activity and community development. Whilst we expect the EU budget to decrease, the funds will still provide a significant source of discretionary spending between 2014 and 2020.

Ranges of numbers in the 2014-20 Multi-annual Financial Framework were published by the Cypriot Presidency on 30 October 2012. Until these ranges are refined, actual budgets cannot be identified. However, we continue to make clear representations on Scotland’s priorities for economic development, rural areas, fisheries policies and research and innovation.

The 26,219 consultation responses, along with the independent analysis, were published on 23 October 2012. This response was the third highest to a consultation since devolution. Responses needed to be checked before being published and given the scale of the response, this process took time.

The analysis of the referendum consultation was carried out by Griesbach and Associates in collaboration with Craigforth HCAS Ltd. The terms and conditions of the contract are as set out in the Scottish Government Social Research Standard Conditions of Contract SR/SC 17/04/2012 (available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/Social-Research/Guidance-for-Contractors/Standard-Conditions).

The contract letter stated that a final report should be submitted by 12 September 2012. The Scottish Government agreed a revised timescale with the researchers and this was met.

The Scottish Government’s project manager for the research contract based in the Strategic Research Team, received draft sections of the report from mid-August 2012 onwards and a draft final report on 12 October 2012. These were shared with policy officials in the Referendum Bill Team.

The Deputy First Minister was sent the draft final report on 20 October 2012. The First Minister was not sent a draft copy of the consultation analysis report.

In line with normal practice, research and policy officials discussed the contents and format of the report with the contractors prior to publication.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10495 on 19 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.