- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 18 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that alternative models of early learning and childcare provision are promoted to eligible families.
Answer
The Scottish Government is increasing the funded early learning and childcare entitlement and is introducing Funding Follows the Child to increase flexibility and choice for families.
From August 2020, parents and carers- including those of eligible 2 year olds – will be able to choose to use their child’s entitlement at any ELC provider that meets the National Standard, has a place available and is willing to enter into a contract with the local authority.
The options offered to parents will depend on local availability but local authorities are working with a range of providers across the private, third and public sectors, including childminders, to increase choice. Local authorities are required to consult every two years on the delivery of funded early learning and childcare in their area. This consultation should include models, flexibility and systems of choice so that parents can inform options on offer within the local authority area.
It is important that parents and carers have access to the information they need to make informed choices about early learning and childcare for their child. Our Parent Club website ( www.parentclub.scot/elc ) includes advice and guidance to help parents make an informed choice when considering what ELC is best for them and their family. We are increasing the amount of information available on the Parent Club website and local authorities are working to raise awareness locally as we prepare for August 2020.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 18 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects uptake of funded early learning and childcare for eligible two-year-olds to exceed 70%, which is the figure in England.
Answer
The Scottish Government and local authorities are focussed on our shared commitment to increasing uptake of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) among eligible 2 year olds, whilst also nearly doubling the offer from August 2020, from 600 hours to 1140 hours.
Our multi-year funding agreement with COSLA secures the resources for local authorities to increase uptake and nearly double the offer. Our ongoing work with the UK Government to legislate for a data-sharing gateway is critical to local authorities' ability to promote the offer to potentially eligible families and ensure all eligible 2 year olds have the opportunity to benefit from extra funded ELC.
Uptake levels in England are higher due to a number of factors, including a larger cohort of eligible children, and the fact that English authorities have benefitted from a legal gateway for data sharing since 2011. The latter was cited by the Department for Education as a key reason for the significant increase in uptake of their 2 year old offer between 2015 and 2017.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 18 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to meet its commitment for 435 additional graduates to be working in nurseries in the most deprived areas, which had an initial timescale of August 2018, and how many are currently in post.
Answer
Local authorities reported in March 2019 (the latest official data collection) that they have recruited 84% (366) of the 435 equity and excellence leads posts (previously known as the additional graduates). However, we are aware that since this time the majority of authorities with vacancies have now recruited their remaining posts and are currently undertaking pre-employment checks. The next data collection is planned for July 2019, which will provide us with a more robust recruitment update.
Scottish Government have been taking a range of actions to support local authorities with recruitment. This year we have hosted a summit to share learning amongst local authorities. To raise awareness of this new role we have produced a marketing video and written case study, which has been distributed to all local authorities and universities.
We will continue to work closely with those small number of authorities who face challenges in recruiting posts and regularly monitor their progress.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21121 by Fergus Ewing on 8 February 2019, how many units in Shetland received payment in 2014 from (a) the Basic Payment Scheme, (b) the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, (c) greening measures and (d) other agri-environmental schemes, also broken down by the amount allocated.
Answer
2014 payments to businesses in Shetland by scheme and amount:
Scheme Amount of Businesses Amount Paid
Single Farm Payment (Predecessor to BPS) 898 £3,500,000
LFASS 800 £2,538,718.44
RP 149 £1,183,217.60
LMO 144 £218,830
Please note;
- BPS/Greening - Not applicable as BPS scheme only came into existence in 2015.
- AECS – Not applicable as AECS scheme only came into existence in 2016.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21226 by Fergus Ewing on 15 February 2019, what the total eligible hectarage claimed under agricultural and environmental support schemes in Shetland was in 2014.
Answer
Total Hectarage claimed in Shetland in 2014 by scheme:
Scheme | Hectarage Claimed (Ha) |
Single Farm Payment (Predecessor to BPS) | 86,884 |
Please Note:
- BPS scheme only came into existence in 2015
- AECS scheme only came into existence in 2016
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) Historic Environment Scotland, (b) Orkney Islands Council and (c) Highlands and Islands Enterprise contributed toward the upgrade of the car parking facilities at the Stone of Stenness in Orkney.
Answer
The upgrading of car parking facilities at the Stones of Stenness was one of three pilot projects supported by the Scottish Government's Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The Scottish Government has provided £80,000 towards the total cost of the work which is being delivered by Orkney Islands Council. Historic Environment Scotland has contributed an additional £100,000. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has not contributed towards this project. In addition to the contribution that Orkney Islands Council are making in delivering the project, we understand that it intends to utilise a portion of the residual funding from a fund it established to support its World Heritage Sites.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the participants on the P1 Practitioner’s Forum were (a) from organisations that are allied to schools, (b) school management staff, (c) P1 teachers in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19 and (d) academics.
Answer
The number of participants in the Forum varied from meeting to meeting, depending on members’ availability. In total around 30-35 people were involved over the four meetings of the Forum. Details on the make-up of the P1 Practitioner Forum were provided in response to S5W-22894 n 9 May 2019. As this sets out, information on whether the teachers on the Forum were teaching P1 in 2017-18 and 2018-19 was not gathered. The published information does however make clear that the vast majority of teachers on the Forum had taught P1 classes and had been involved with SNSA within schools. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 26 June 2018 that “if sufficient progress is not made over the next 12 months to deliver the empowerment of schools we have agreed with local authorities, I will return to Parliament and introduce an Education Bill”, whether the Bill will be discarded.
Answer
I will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament later this month, setting out the progress that has been made and outlining the Scottish Government's next steps for ensuring the delivery of Scotland's education reforms.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2019
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Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in developing coach park facilities for the Jarlshof site in Shetland.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 30 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct Education Scotland to carry out an assessment of the impact on pupils of (a) consortia arrangements between schools and (b) multilevel classes in schools.
Answer
These issues were the subject of discussion when I gave evidence at the Education and Skills Committee on 29 May. The Scottish Government will consider this issue once it receives the Committee report.
