Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-06466

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the poundage rate for non-domestic rates has been in each of the last 10 years, and what it will be in 2017-18, also broken down by the (a) large and (b) small business supplement (i) rate and (ii) cut-off.

The following table shows the poundage rate, large business supplement and large business supplement threshold (rateable value) for each year from 2007-08 to 2017-18.

Year	Poundage rate (pence)	Large business supplement (pence)	Large business supplement threshold (rateable value)
2007-08	44.1	0.3	> £29,000
2008-09	45.8	0.4	> £29,000
2009-10	48.1	0.4	> £29,000
2010-11	40.7	0.7	> £35,000
2011-12	42.6	0.7	> £35,000
2012-13	45.0	0.8	> £35,000
2013-14	46.2	0.9	> £35,000
2014-15	47.1	1.1	> £35,000
2015-16	48.0	1.3	> £35,000
2016-17	48.4	2.6	> £35,000
2017-18	46.6	2.6	> £51,000

Question reference: S5W-06459

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid through each type of business relief in each (a) local authority area and (b) sector in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by how many businesses received this, and how much will be paid in 2017-18.

The following tables set out the amount paid for the different types of business rates relief, by local authority area, for each year from 2009-10 to 2014-15. Date prior to this is not currently available. Detailed information relating to 2015-16 will be available when the next Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics is published later in February 2017 and for future years when the statistics for that year are published.

Sector income breakdowns of reliefs are not collected.

2009-10 - Non-Domestic Rates Relief Paid, by type of Relief and Local Authority (£000)¹

	Empty Property Relief	Small Business Bonus Scheme	Charity Relief	Religious Exemption	Disabled Rates Relief	Rural Relief	Other
Aberdeen City	9,234	3,364	6,593	648	2,758	-	320
Aberdeenshire	1,526	5,171	1,466	574	2,681	929	871
Angus	1,533	2,473	1,245	399	872	92	234
Argyll & Bute	777	3,214	1,410	406	593	255	223
Clackmannanshire	750	880	571	94	321	1	85
Dumfries & Galloway	1,640	3,706	1,635	277	634	288	316
Dundee City	6,759	2,920	5,858	536	1,468	-	155
East Ayrshire	2,271	2,229	1,239	430	815	28	138
East Dunbartonshire	1,108	1,545	1,235	448	473	1	393
East Lothian	945	1,952	1,627	303	711	38	410
East Renfrewshire	1,323	1,094	471	344	397	-	221
Edinburgh, City of	27,341	10,492	23,761	2,465	5,643	-	1,172
Eilean Siar	483	599	643	219	243	151	54
Falkirk	3,381	2,690	1,407	321	1,177	5	93
Fife	10,072	6,721	5,778	854	3,060	41	614
Glasgow City	26,536	11,815	29,804	2,681	5,264	-	496
Highland	4,411	6,966	5,450	860	2,693	1,020	437
Inverclyde	1,776	1,366	1,771	319	519	1	119
Midlothian	626	1,468	2,361	1,122	585	13	222
Moray	651	1,808	797	284	700	129	367
North Ayrshire	3,713	2,840	2,167	566	1,098	46	232
North Lanarkshire	9,111	5,399	3,953	1,759	2,063	4	451
Orkney Islands	141	808	386	79	141	203	51
Perth & Kinross	2,100	4,337	3,655	556	1,608	121	468
Renfrewshire	9,147	3,556	3,581	650	1,711	-	231
Scottish Borders	1,789	3,472	1,114	241	868	106	741
Shetland Islands	746	527	730	105	251	151	584
South Ayrshire	3,579	2,712	1,558	325	1,121	49	291
South Lanarkshire	8,198	5,812	4,095	1,320	2,944	131	425
Stirling	1,998	2,441	2,604	253	636	100	808
West Dunbartonshire	1,505	1,275	1,152	383	422	1	48
West Lothian	8,193	2,770	2,015	396	1,017	14	354
1. Data is final Audited data

2010-11 - Non-Domestic Rates Relief Paid, by type of Relief and Local Authority (£000)¹

	Empty Property Relief	Small Business Bonus Scheme	Charity Relief	Religious Exemption	Disabled Rates Relief	Renewables Energy Relief	Rural Relief	Other
Aberdeen City	9,663	3,525	7,883	756	2,755	-	-	285
Aberdeenshire	1,835	5,945	1,659	692	3,081	446	1,056	939
Angus	1,667	2,757	1,423	481	1,182	-	73	218
Argyll & Bute	688	3,628	1,645	393	619	187	245	226
Clackmannanshire	569	968	661	109	355	7	-	78
Dumfries & Galloway	1,750	4,186	1,711	436	758	337	288	300
Dundee City	6,103	3,238	6,527	602	1,771	-	-	160
East Ayrshire	1,799	2,336	1,311	408	990	-	33	112
East Dunbartonshire	899	1,811	1,459	493	550	-	1	348
East Lothian	1,136	2,263	2,064	492	820	60	43	595
East Renfrewshire	1,146	1,260	483	414	461	-	-	217
Edinburgh, City of	25,642	12,272	25,880	3,492	6,711	-	-	1,258
Eilean Siar	365	736	731	276	308	28	167	59
Falkirk	3,073	2,876	1,502	385	1,378	-	5	87
Fife	9,896	7,627	7,166	1,171	3,279	67	46	618
Glasgow City	28,241	13,684	32,825	2,796	6,130	-	-	529
Highland	3,596	8,064	5,916	1,049	3,176	537	1,081	440
Inverclyde	1,608	1,522	1,989	268	609	-	0	120
Midlothian	580	1,735	2,395	1,473	576	-	16	232
Moray	741	2,184	997	357	783	130	127	385
North Ayrshire	3,066	3,193	2,182	440	1,363	87	52	237
North Lanarkshire	8,668	6,001	4,761	2,041	2,312	39	1	544
Orkney Islands	135	929	498	128	175	143	214	49
Perth & Kinross	1,929	4,849	3,918	664	1,779	104	104	462
Renfrewshire	7,808	3,815	3,540	692	1,970	-	-	227
Scottish Borders	1,789	3,960	1,721	457	1,037	127	142	329
Shetland Islands	874	606	876	129	331	36	162	619
South Ayrshire	3,190	3,028	1,611	430	1,294	-	41	166
South Lanarkshire	6,860	6,434	4,891	1,400	3,061	1,005	113	406
Stirling	1,606	2,740	2,894	289	749	220	101	836
West Dunbartonshire	1,550	1,756	1,109	324	370	-	1	60
West Lothian	7,464	3,328	2,503	479	1,171	-	16	341
1. Data is final Audited data

2011-12 - Non-Domestic Rates Relief Paid, by type of Relief and Local Authority (£000)¹

	Empty Property Relief	Small Business Bonus Scheme	Charity Relief	Religious Exemption	Disabled Rates Relief	Renewables Energy Relief	Rural Relief	Other
Aberdeen City	8,812	3,917	8,633	794	2,752	-	-	302
Aberdeenshire	2,412	6,541	1,749	762	3,161	652	1,091	990
Angus	1,939	2,998	1,500	501	1,250	12	67	229
Argyll & Bute	731	4,044	1,744	409	650	267	248	222
Clackmannanshire	596	1,092	762	115	362	7	-	82
Dumfries & Galloway	1,776	4,676	1,845	457	792	311	294	312
Dundee City	6,665	3,618	7,572	615	1,873	-	-	152
East Ayrshire	2,485	2,551	1,260	423	983	-	30	107
East Dunbartonshire	700	1,976	2,332	507	576	-	1	365
East Lothian	1,203	2,447	2,209	398	854	62	33	662
East Renfrewshire	957	1,412	507	433	482	-	-	227
Edinburgh, City of	28,377	12,049	27,691	3,040	6,974	-	-	1,245
Eilean Siar	362	824	792	269	309	29	190	59
Falkirk	2,818	3,222	2,351	401	1,450	-	6	85
Fife	10,979	8,469	8,001	1,215	3,795	79	46	563
Glasgow City	31,048	15,608	36,451	2,967	6,564	-	-	515
Highland	3,988	8,981	6,347	1,104	3,160	1,001	1,124	453
Inverclyde	1,776	1,732	2,086	275	638	-	-	117
Midlothian	1,635	1,671	2,917	277	781	-	13	221
Moray	744	2,311	1,193	376	797	139	136	184
North Ayrshire	2,638	3,486	2,400	472	1,450	91	53	252
North Lanarkshire	9,737	6,806	5,187	2,134	2,216	41	1	556
Orkney Islands	182	979	550	134	177	208	219	51
Perth & Kinross	2,173	5,356	3,987	712	1,995	174	108	486
Renfrewshire	7,661	4,214	3,688	459	2,028	-	-	250
Scottish Borders	1,917	4,284	1,399	478	1,101	209	149	884
Shetland Islands	1,304	718	922	143	349	37	170	647
South Ayrshire	3,072	3,276	1,806	482	1,362	-	39	165
South Lanarkshire	7,523	6,768	6,282	1,465	3,014	576	85	427
Stirling	1,898	3,048	3,062	303	749	230	99	874
West Dunbartonshire	1,759	1,977	1,258	335	471	-	1	65
West Lothian	7,992	3,668	2,793	506	1,255	-	16	350
1. Data is final Audited data

2012-13 - Non-Domestic Rates Relief Paid, by type of Relief and Local Authority (£000)¹

	Empty Property Relief	Small Business Bonus Scheme	Charity Relief	Religious Exemption	Disabled Rates Relief	Renewables Energy Relief	Rural Relief	Other
Aberdeen City	7,714	4,248	9,358	874	2,712	-	-	321
Aberdeenshire	2,450	7,138	1,927	839	2,176	914	1,146	1,052
Angus	2,095	3,265	1,576	530	1,386	18	64	276
Argyll & Bute	745	4,425	1,938	431	608	351	247	236
Clackmannanshire	660	1,265	778	121	436	85	-	87
Dumfries & Galloway	1,842	5,310	1,816	477	1,022	342	301	330
Dundee City	6,790	4,044	8,148	644	1,990	-	-	115
East Ayrshire	2,739	2,800	1,284	450	1,033	-	26	115
East Dunbartonshire	606	2,196	2,547	525	684	-	1	387
East Lothian	1,159	2,620	2,333	420	901	66	34	591
East Renfrewshire	1,036	1,497	639	459	612	-	-	200
Edinburgh, City of	28,880	14,557	30,738	3,284	7,368	-	-	1,409
Eilean Siar	324	942	850	273	341	31	183	65
Falkirk	3,495	3,576	2,720	424	1,387	-	6	87
Fife	12,312	9,442	8,588	1,267	3,989	94	46	566
Glasgow City	35,662	17,526	38,958	3,154	7,462	-	-	556
Highland	4,426	10,004	7,644	1,176	3,390	868	1,180	470
Inverclyde	1,648	1,943	2,243	291	743	-	-	137
Midlothian	2,008	1,976	3,002	300	964	-	10	252
Moray	850	2,505	1,276	399	867	204	144	192
North Ayrshire	2,858	3,786	2,549	485	1,506	236	54	271
North Lanarkshire	10,146	7,524	6,090	2,221	2,289	53	1	400
Orkney Islands	390	1,090	613	148	196	241	227	50
Perth & Kinross	2,220	5,923	4,397	751	2,386	394	110	407
Renfrewshire	7,787	4,568	3,890	739	2,263	-	-	244
Scottish Borders	2,067	4,659	1,516	499	1,141	300	112	900
Shetland Islands	1,200	768	1,040	154	369	40	180	685
South Ayrshire	3,327	3,643	1,845	503	1,519	-	47	184
South Lanarkshire	8,635	7,360	6,683	1,536	3,248	367	79	464
Stirling	2,491	3,364	3,140	318	755	164	93	931
West Dunbartonshire	1,436	2,155	1,939	352	543	-	1	78
West Lothian	9,137	4,075	2,916	527	1,294	45	12	385
1. Data is final Audited data

2013-14 - Non-Domestic Rates Relief Paid, by type of Relief and Local Authority (£000)¹

	Empty Property Relief	Small Business Bonus Scheme	Charity Relief	Religious Exemption	Disabled Rates Relief	Renewables Energy Relief	Rural Relief	Other
Aberdeen City	5,272	4,489	9,659	934	2,839	43	-	322
Aberdeenshire	2,217	7,623	1,965	868	2,350	1,546	1,180	1,105
Angus	1,764	3,483	1,667	548	1,389	87	64	284
Argyll & Bute	597	4,772	1,983	428	638	545	251	239
Clackmannanshire	490	1,341	763	121	447	68	-	89
Dumfries & Galloway	1,783	5,760	1,870	463	1,031	304	268	344
Dundee City	5,469	4,531	8,209	689	2,075	-	-	131
East Ayrshire	2,979	3,059	1,946	458	1,117	-	17	120
East Dunbartonshire	451	2,398	2,663	532	837	-	1	391
East Lothian	1,233	2,788	2,429	414	883	68	35	751
East Renfrewshire	910	1,605	681	451	610	58	-	236
Edinburgh, City of	19,598	14,787	31,042	3,356	7,356	-	-	1,434
Eilean Siar	309	1,025	873	280	346	105	191	62
Falkirk	2,935	3,846	3,065	437	1,430	-	6	97
Fife	11,654	10,305	8,054	1,310	4,007	152	39	571
Glasgow City	34,745	19,336	41,486	3,302	7,324	8	-	779
Highland	4,017	10,717	7,848	1,239	3,456	1,126	1,197	488
Inverclyde	1,845	2,106	2,396	298	667	-	-	136
Midlothian	1,583	1,958	3,077	300	882	-	10	259
Moray	696	2,711	1,361	408	876	269	143	197
North Ayrshire	2,792	4,030	2,653	499	1,472	344	53	270
North Lanarkshire	8,488	7,957	8,077	2,265	2,321	58	-	421
Orkney Islands	369	1,161	763	153	201	328	242	58
Perth & Kinross	1,777	6,422	4,662	774	2,426	484	103	434
Renfrewshire	7,564	4,855	4,095	739	2,300	-	-	253
Scottish Borders	1,975	4,869	1,522	511	1,141	518	109	932
Shetland Islands	1,733	825	1,136	158	322	41	179	703
South Ayrshire	2,566	3,865	1,814	524	1,533	15	48	247
South Lanarkshire	6,991	7,832	7,433	1,507	3,397	890	73	487
Stirling	2,268	3,609	3,279	321	775	218	103	948
West Dunbartonshire	1,060	2,442	1,966	359	522	-	2	82
West Lothian	8,365	4,493	3,184	558	1,326	57	9	422
1. Data is final Audited data

2014-15 - Non-Domestic Rates Relief Paid, by type of Relief and Local Authority (£000)¹

	Empty Property Relief	Small Business Bonus Scheme	Charity Relief	Religious Exemption	Disabled Rates Relief	Renewables Energy Relief	Rural Relief	Other
Aberdeen City	4,077	4,604	10,235	995	2,898	59	-	352
Aberdeenshire	1,998	7,984	2,162	916	2,412	1,934	1,172	1,163
Angus	1,838	3,775	1,703	551	1,368	113	71	329
Argyll & Bute	563	5,052	2,075	441	606	652	239	245
Clackmannanshire	505	1,419	813	124	455	35	-	91
Dumfries & Galloway	2,048	6,080	1,955	468	1,049	484	258	365
Dundee City	5,056	4,791	8,995	717	2,173	-	-	150
East Ayrshire	1,834	3,014	2,318	462	1,181	-	12	133
East Dunbartonshire	388	2,575	2,714	549	867	-	1	411
East Lothian	1,237	2,956	2,561	418	927	34	36	908
East Renfrewshire	983	1,715	741	461	625	80	-	239
Edinburgh, City of	20,523	16,681	32,447	3,491	7,484	-	-	1,669
Eilean Siar	288	1,282	897	279	361	213	152	56
Falkirk	4,290	4,072	3,053	443	1,459	5	5	118
Fife	10,333	10,864	8,845	1,380	4,236	228	41	558
Glasgow City	35,430	20,670	42,383	3,429	7,860	22	-	948
Highland	3,872	11,422	7,948	1,279	3,589	1,395	1,203	414
Inverclyde	1,888	2,167	2,124	303	688	-	-	301
Midlothian	968	2,256	3,316	351	830	-	10	272
Moray	662	2,820	1,438	417	895	447	149	204
North Ayrshire	3,045	4,151	2,737	491	1,491	393	54	325
North Lanarkshire	8,232	7,948	8,397	2,368	2,159	105	-	683
Orkney Islands	452	1,225	812	156	220	385	242	64
Perth & Kinross	1,440	6,711	4,855	791	2,462	624	103	449
Renfrewshire	7,264	5,197	4,466	754	2,214	-	-	284
Scottish Borders	2,054	5,209	1,628	515	1,160	602	112	974
Shetland Islands	884	865	1,170	159	330	52	165	719
South Ayrshire	2,559	3,933	2,022	535	1,528	23	44	255
South Lanarkshire	5,561	8,142	7,694	1,582	3,469	992	61	560
Stirling	1,994	3,747	3,203	322	801	327	104	960
West Dunbartonshire	1,235	2,479	2,190	366	520	-	1	69
West Lothian	7,460	4,826	3,346	600	1,328	76	9	461
1. Data is final Audited data

Robust data on the number of properties in receipt of relief prior to 2015-16 is not available. Estimated data on the number of properties in receipt of reliefs in 2015-16 (mid-year estimates) is provided in the tables below.

2015	Properties receiving any rates relief
Advertising	100
Care Facilities	2,300
Communications	100
Cultural	1,000
Education and Training	1,100
Garages and Petrol Stations	2,900
Health and Medical	1,600
Hotels	3,300
Industrial	30,300
Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans	18,400
Offices	23,000
Other	3,700
Petrochemical	-
Public Houses	1,500
Public Service Subjects	5,400
Quarries, Mines	100
Religious	5,000
Shops	34,600
Sporting	1,000
Utilities	300
Local Authority	Number in receipt of NDR relief
Aberdeen City	3,200
Aberdeenshire	7,300
Angus	3,300
Argyll & Bute	5,700
Clackmannanshire	1,100
Dumfries & Galloway	5,900
Dundee City	3,300
East Ayrshire	2,300
East Dunbartonshire	1,400
East Lothian	2,300
East Renfrewshire	1,100
Edinburgh, City of	10,500
Eilean Siar	1,800
Falkirk	2,800
Fife	8,300
Glasgow City	14,700
Highland	12,400
Inverclyde	1,500
Midlothian	1,700
Moray	2,900
North Ayrshire	3200
North Lanarkshire	5,200
Orkney Islands	1,700
Perth & Kinross	5,200
Renfrewshire	3,900
Scottish Borders	5,100
Shetland Islands	1,400
South Ayrshire	2,900
South Lanarkshire	5,800
Stirling	2,900
West Dunbartonshire	1,700
West Lothian	3,300

Question reference: S5W-06389

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 7 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the average length of time is to complete a (a) BA in Childhood Practice and (b) Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary).

Question reference: S5W-06464

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in each (a) local authority area and (b) sector have paid the large business supplement each year, and how many will in 2017-18.

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Aberdeen City

2,234

2,265

2,266

2,267

2,263

2,270

2,324

Aberdeenshire

915

943

979

1,018

1,032

1,069

1,107

Angus

391

395

396

397

396

397

405

Argyll & Bute

348

352

346

342

344

349

Clackmannanshire

147

149

148

146

143

145

144

Dumfries & Galloway

531

554

549

543

541

550

552

Dundee City

988

982

956

940

952

950

944

East Ayrshire

395

401

405

414

411

415

East Dunbartonshire

303

308

306

299

302

East Lothian

322

324

313

323

322

326

325

East Renfrewshire

222

227

224

219

217

219

225

Edinburgh, City of

3,924

3,938

3,927

3,915

3,907

3,918

3,910

Eilean Siar

112

113

112

111

113

114

117

Falkirk

684

689

676

678

676

Fife

1,614

1,619

1,606

1,593

1,611

1,618

Glasgow City

4,792

4,841

4,829

4,775

4,749

4,741

4,740

Highland

1,322

1,350

1,358

1,355

1,361

1,381

1,396

Inverclyde

307

312

306

303

Midlothian

356

362

360

359

364

371

369

Moray

351

358

360

356

361

363

364

North Ayrshire

495

496

491

492

486

495

500

North Lanarkshire

1,540

1,551

1,544

1,543

1,547

1,543

1,548

Orkney Islands

92

95

96

94

96

Perth & Kinross

714

726

723

718

714

718

720

Renfrewshire

948

959

951

948

942

950

963

Scottish Borders

412

415

413

412

416

421

Shetland Islands

141

143

144

147

151

146

South Ayrshire

550

551

553

554

555

554

564

South Lanarkshire

1,465

1,475

1,476

1,459

1,460

1,479

1,476

Stirling

559

560

564

572

571

West Dunbartonshire

410

415

412

411

409

412

415

West Lothian

1,098

1,103

1,118

1,126

1,129

1,130

1,114

Scotland

28,682

28,970

28,910

28,829

28,815

28,970

29,119

As at 1st April each year

Source: SAA Valuation Roll, where RV>£35k

Property Classification	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17
Advertising	16	15	17	18	19	21	20
Care Facilities	975	975	984	978	969	974	986
Communications	69	69	60	59	59	90	90
Cultural	194	195	197	195	192	196	198
Education and Training	2,479	2,473	2,457	2,434	2,405	2,391	2,401
Garages and Petrol Stations	463	487	477	457	440	442	447
Health and Medical	750	768	764	778	774	769	756
Hotels	927	932	946	938	934	949	961
Industrial Subjects	5,969	6,014	6,002	5,982	5,997	6,051	6,082
Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.	1,170	1,184	1,194	1,185	1,179	1,196	1,213
Offices	5,173	5,262	5,213	5,210	5,238	5,203	5,192
Other	304	298	318	313	320	329	342
Petrochemical	82	82	84	83	82	79	79
Public Houses	894	880	842	832	836	841	851
Public Service Subjects	1,207	1,220	1,227	1,237	1,231	1,248	1,251
Quarries, Mines, etc.	135	137	136	137	127	127	123
Religious	204	210	218	225	230	233	233
Shops	7,353	7,398	7,437	7,422	7,421	7,470	7,507
Sporting Subjects	49	54	54	52	54	57	59
Statutory Undertaking	269	317	283	294	308	304	328
Scotland	28,682	28,970	28,910	28,829	28,815	28,970	29,119
As at 1st April each year
Source: SAA Valuation Roll, where RV>£35k

Question reference: S5O-00649

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support businesses that will see their non-domestic rates bills increase from April 2017.

Question reference: S5W-06395

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its recent announcement on funding for additional graduates for early learning and childcare, what funding will be provided to local authorities to meet the costs of employing additional graduates.

The Scottish Government will invest nearly £1.5 million in 2017-18 to fund additional places for teacher training and on the BA Childhood Practice degree.

The Scottish Government will also provide funding to support delivery of the commitment from 2018-19 onwards. The full costs of delivery will mainly reflect additional staffing costs, which will be determined by the mixture of additional teachers and graduates that local authorities and partner providers recruit.

Question reference: S5W-06396

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on the number of (a) graduates of a BA in Childhood Practice and (b) teachers who are employed in nurseries of a reduction of £327 million to local government funding.

Taking next year's local government finance settlement plus the other sources of income available through potential increases in council tax, and Health and Social Care Integration, the overall increase in spending power to support local authority services amounts to £241 million (2.3 per cent in cash terms) or over £91 million (0.9 per cent in real terms).

In addition the Scottish Draft Budget 2017-18 has allocated over £60 million in new investment to support the expansion to 1,140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare entitlement.

This includes investment in the training and employment of new staff as well as the upskilling of some of the existing ELC workforce to ensure those currently within the sector have an opportunity to progress their careers. For example in order to support delivery of the Additional Graduate commitment the Scottish Government will invest nearly £1.5 million in 2017-18 to fund additional places for teacher training and on the BA Childhood Practice.

Question reference: S5W-06399

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its recent announcement on funding for additional graduates for early learning and childcare, when the commitment to have 435 additional graduates in nurseries will be met.

Question reference: S5W-06391

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its recent announcement on funding for additional graduates for early learning and childcare, which nurseries will receive support, broken down by local authority.

Allocations of the additional graduates to local authorities were determined by their share of the nurseries located in the 20% most deprived postcode areas. Using the Care Inspectorate data on Early Learning and Childcare settings, and the latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), 432 nurseries were identified as being located in the 20% most deprived postcode areas. Each of the three local authorities (Orkney, Shetland, and Western Isles) without a nursery in the 20% most deprived postcode areas will also receive 1 additional graduate.

To ensure that this commitment benefits as many children as possible local authorities will be given flexibility to draw on their local data to prioritise how they allocate these additional places.

We are currently working closely with local authorities on progressing this commitment, and will ask them to provide plans setting out how they propose to allocate the additional places in their area.

Question reference: S5W-06386

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many admissions there have been for a (a) BA in Childhood Practice and (b) Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) and, of those, how many people (i) completed, (ii) are still to complete and (iii) are no longer studying without completing the course in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by institution.

Chamber and committees