Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government Stud Farm Knocknagael (which includes Balrobert) is 259.55Ha, used for arable cropping, production of winter fodder and grazing.

Due to the sensitive nature of the information involved it may be possible to identify individuals, even if the information were grouping by directorate/division, because of the very small numbers. The information is therefore withheld under paragraph 38 1 (b) (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act.

We can confirm that the Scottish Government have a no compulsory redundancy policy.

The total area of Beechwood was 86.773 ha or thereby. 83.57has of this was in agricultural use, utilised for arable cropping, winter fodder production and grazing.

As part of the modernisation of the Stud Farm, 20.3ha (50.15acres) of agricultural land has been identified as surplus to requirements of the modernised Scottish Government Stud Farm Knocknagael. Although this land is currently being used for agriculture production, this production is not necessary to support the running of the improved facility.

In order to derive best value to the taxpayer, it is Government policy that surplus assets should be identified and released subject to value for money requirements in order to generate capital receipts. This surplus land has been identified as suitable for housing and green space, particularly so given the surrounding land uses and the topography of the area.

The remaining land at the Scottish Government Stud Farm Knocknagael will continue to support the facility through arable cropping, production of winter fodder and grazing.

All of the land was sold (86.773ha or thereby) in 2008-2009.

The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 requires public bodies to exclude a company from bidding where it has been convicted of one of the criminal offences laid out in the Regulations. The Regulations also permit exclusion, where it is reasonable and proportionate to do so, if a company meets any of the specified criteria set out in the legislation. One such criterion is where a company has not fulfilled its obligations relating to the payment of taxes.

The Scottish Government’s standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire requires companies bidding for public contracts to disclose if they have failed to comply with their statutory obligations relating to the payment of taxes.

The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 permits public bodies to exclude bidders who have a relevant criminal conviction or have failed to fulfil obligations relating to the payment of taxes.

Companies are asked to disclose this information when completing the Scottish Government’s standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (SPQQ) which is available for use across the public sector. If the bidding company has not fulfilled its tax obligations, it will be asked to demonstrate any remedial action taken and any information provided by the company may be taken into account by the public body when deciding whether to exclude that company from the bidding process. The SPQQ makes clear that failure to disclose the relevant information or serious misrepresentation in relation to the information disclosed will result in exclusion from the procurement process or the termination of any subsequent contract.

In the event of a member being dissatisfied with an answer received from the Scottish Government, it is open to the member concerned to pursue the matter by lodging a further question, via correspondence or by lodging a motion for debate.

The Scottish Ministerial Code makes clear that ministers have a duty to hold the Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions taken within their field of responsibility. In addition, the Code requires ministers to provide accurate and truthful information to the Parliament. These principles are respected in terms of all answers given to parliamentary questions.

Transportation to schools for pupils is a matter for the local authorities, and the Scottish Government has no locus to intervene.

However, some local authorities do include an element for transportation in their bids from the Gaelic Specific Grant Scheme under the Gaelic Education (Scotland) Regulations 1986.

There are currently 343 teachers teaching through the medium of Gaelic in all levels from Nursery through to Secondary. In 2012 we saw 24 probationers graduate which was the largest number of Gaelic Medium Teachers ever to come through training in a single year.

However, we are aware that the recruitment of teachers to the Gaelic sector remains a challenge. To help address this challenge Bòrd na Gaidhlig has set up the Gaelic Teachers Recruitment and Retention Group which is made up of representatives from the Scottish Government, all the Teacher Education Institutions and a number of local authorities who provide GME. The Group seeks to identify recruitment, promotion and retention opportunities in the sector whilst seeking to remove any barriers to individuals who wish to teach. The Group is making good progress and a new Gaelic Teacher Immersion Course is being developed through its work. The aim of this course will be to enable teachers to transfer to Gaelic Medium teaching.

In addition the Scottish Government has written to the Scottish Funding Council asking it to support initiatives which could improve effectiveness and widen access to Gaelic teacher education. In response to this request the Council have agreed to support The University of the Highlands and Islands with the funding of 20 additional student places for Gaelic Teacher Training.