Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-08356

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 23 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages pupils to consider studying undergraduate courses in science.

Education in Science, Technologies, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects is a priority for this government, as these areas are key drivers of Scotland’s future economic prosperity.

Under Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), teachers have professional autonomy to ensure pupils’ learning experiences are tailored to meet their individual needs and interests. Entries for Highers and Advanced Highers in science subjects have increased since 2009, with pass rates remaining high. The examination results for 2011 show that science subjects represent three of the top five subjects taken at Higher.

The recent independent report from the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group (SEEAG) included recommendations aimed at ensuring pupils continue to have opportunities to experience high-quality learning in the sciences, and have access to appropriate information about pathways into STEM-related further learning and careers. The Scottish Government intends to publish a response to the SEEAG report later in the summer.

Higher Education and industry work closely together to identify future skills needs for Scotland. Over the next three years the Scottish Funding Council will increase by 1,200 the number of funded places available at universities for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These are considered to be priority growth areas over coming years, particularly with the growth of new clean energy sectors.

Question reference: S4W-08357

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports participation in equestrian sports.

Question reference: S4W-08360

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 18 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages engagement between denominational and non-denominational schools.

The Scottish Government published a guide promoting twinning arrangements between denominational and non-denominational schools in 2006. The guide, Building Friendships and Strengthening Communities, continues to be made available through the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/07092739/0.

The Scottish Government supports engagement between schools to break down barriers between communities and encourage friendships between pupils.

Question reference: S4W-08355

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 18 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates there have been of computer science courses that have an emphasis on software engineering since 2007, broken down by institution.

Figures on qualifiers from Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who studied Computer Science are provided in the following tables. It is not possible to separately identify courses that have an emphasis on software engineering from official data.

Table 1: Qualifiers from Scottish HEIs who studied Computer Science by institution.

All levels of study

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

All Institutions	2020	1875	1865	2140
Aberdeen, The University of	60	65	60	55
Abertay Dundee, The University of	300	360	380	420
Dundee, The University of	50	45	65	60
Edinburgh, Napier University	250	215	175	215
Edinburgh, The University of	205	210	170	295
Glasgow Caledonian University	180	130	135	165
Glasgow, The University of	85	115	110	110
Heriot-Watt University	95	100	75	80
Highlands and Islands, The University	115	105	115	115
Open University, The	40	35	35	30
Robert Gordon University, The	195	110	135	205
St Andrews, The University of	45	30	50	50
Stirling, The University of	50	60	50	45
Strathclyde, The University of	80	75	95	95
The West of Scotland, The University	260	210	215	195

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Tables 2a, 2b and 2c contain a breakdown of the above figures by level of Study.

Table 2a: Postgraduate Qualifiers from Scottish HEIs who studied Computer Science by institution.

Postgraduate

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

All Institutions	690	660	625	825
Aberdeen, The University of	30	40	30	35
Abertay Dundee,The University of	120	100	115	115
Dundee, The University of	20	20	25	20
Edinburgh, Napier University	50	55	25	30
Edinburgh,The University of	150	170	140	255
Glasgow Caledonian University	75	50	30	60
Glasgow, The University of	50	65	75	70
Heriot-Watt University	35	35	30	35
Highlands and Islands, The University	0	0	0	0
Open University, The	0	0	0	0
Robert Gordon University, The	105	60	70	135
St Andrews, The University of	20	10	25	35
Stirling, The University of	15	25	20	15
Strathclyde, The University of	5	20	20	15
The West of Scotland, The University	15	15	20	5

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Table 2b: First Degree Qualifiers from Scottish HEIs who studied Computer Science by institution.

First Degree

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

All Institutions	1100	1050	1105	1195
Aberdeen, The University of	30	25	25	25
Abertay Dundee,The University of	180	245	260	300
Dundee, The University of	35	30	40	40
Edinburgh, Napier University	190	155	145	185
Edinburgh,The University of	55	45	35	45
Glasgow Caledonian University	105	80	95	100
Glasgow, The University of	35	50	35	40
Heriot-Watt University	60	65	45	45
Highlands and Islands, The University	15	10	20	25
Open University, The	15	10	10	5
Robert Gordon University, The	90	50	70	70
St Andrews, The University of	30	20	25	15
Stirling, The University of	25	25	30	25
Strathclyde, The University of	70	60	75	80
The West of Scotland, The University	165	185	195	190

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Table 2c: Other HE Qualifiers from Scottish HEIs who studied Computer Science by institution.

Other HE

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

All Institutions	230	165	135	120
Aberdeen, The University of	0	0	0	0
Abertay Dundee,The University of	5	15	5	5
Dundee, The University of	0	0	0	0
Edinburgh, Napier University	10	5	5	0
Edinburgh,The University of	0	0	0	0
Glasgow Caledonian University	0	0	5	5
Glasgow, The University of	0	0	0	0
Heriot-Watt University	0	0	0	0
Highlands and Islands, The University	100	95	95	90
Open University, The	25	25	20	20
Robert Gordon University, The	0	0	0	0
St Andrews, The University of	0	0	0	0
Stirling, The University of	10	10	0	0
Strathclyde, The University of	0	0	0	0
The West of Scotland, The University	85	15	0	0

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Question reference: S4W-08371

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has with local organisations regarding (a) countryside and (b) woodland development.

Consultation arrangements on countryside and woodland development depend on the nature of the development.

“Development” in the countryside as defined by the Town and Country Planning Act is, in most cases, considered by local authorities, who are responsible for consulting with local organisations.

Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is responsible for determining whether applications for new woodland planting, woodland felling and deforestation and, in most cases, the construction of forest roads and quarries should be approved. All applications are advertised on the FCS public register and, in addition, FCS consults with local authorities, statutory consultees and local organisations (for example, Community Councils) on cases above a size threshold, or as otherwise agreed locally with the relevant authority and partners. Details of consultation arrangements can be found at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/consult.pdf/$FILE/consult.pdf.

In addition, proposals for afforestation, deforestation and the construction of forest roads and quarries are subject to environmental impact assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. Full details of how forestry proposals are considered and consulted upon by FCS under the EIA regulations can be found at:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/EIAGeneral09.pdf/$FILE/EIAGeneral09.pdf.

Question reference: S4W-08369

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the impact on communities of odours from industrial premises.

Question reference: S4W-08362

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages the start-up of new businesses in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.

The Scottish Government is firmly committed to working with all partners across Ayrshire to maintain a supportive business environment, ensuring that measures are in place to encourage the development of new businesses in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley. The Business Gateway, delivered by local authorities as part of their local economic development responsibility, is the key delivery channel offering a first point of contact for all publicly funded advice to start-up and existing businesses.

Our key economic development agencies in the area, Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise, are working closely with East Ayrshire Council on the Make it Kilmarnock initiative. One strand of this initiative, Business Nurture, promotes Kilmarnock as a location for new businesses, particularly through the promotion of business parks at Moorfield and Rowallan.

In addition, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth officially opened the Entrepreneurial Spark facility in Sir Tom Hunter's premises in Dundonald last month. This joint initiative, involving the three local authorities in Ayrshire, will provide extensive hands-on support and mentoring for new business with growth potential.

Question reference: S4W-08370

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask local authorities to review the council tax liabilities of terminally ill people who are hospitalised and who have unoccupied second homes.

Under the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which governs council tax, it is for each local authority to interpret and apply the provisions set out in legislation. Depending on individual circumstances, a number of exemptions and discounts may be awarded. This can include exemption where an individual is away from home to receive care and council tax discount for second or unoccupied properties.

However, local authorities do not have powers to provide discretionary exemptions based on health or other issues. This type of support for individuals is provided through the social security system, which is reserved to the UK Parliament.

Question reference: S4W-08366

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many court cases to resolve family contact disputes there have been under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006.

Question reference: S4O-01187

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to grow the economy in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.