- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 2 November 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recommendations of VOX Scotland and the Mental Health Foundation report, A Review of Mental Health Services in Scotland: Perspectives and Experiences of Service Users, Carers and Professionals, will be incorporated in the 10-year vision for mental health in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcomes the report which was delivered and published in January 2016, identifying the general direction of mental health services over the last ten years. The report provides a baseline for the status of services and the views of the services, both those providing and those recipients in the areas they focussed on.
The report’s findings, which illustrate positive change, will contribute to the thinking around the content of the next mental health strategy.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 November 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much was paid in Education Maintenance Allowance payments in each of the last 12 years to (a) male and (b) female students.
Answer
The following table details the Education Maintenance Payments (EMA) made to young people since academic year 2006-07 disaggregated by gender. The most recent EMA statistics publication is available at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/03/8840/downloads.
The EMA is an entitlement in Scotland and a demand led programme which means that any person who meets the eligibility criteria will receive support. Therefore, the spend will fluctuate depending on how many people qualify for the award.
|
Table 6. EMA payment spend (£) by gender: 2006-07 to 2014-15
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Recipients
|
Total Payments (£)
|
Weekly Payments (£)
|
Bonus Payments (£)
|
|
Academic Year
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
2006-07
|
17,245
|
20,235
|
14,847,315
|
17,585,970
|
11,663,865
|
13,766,220
|
3,183,450
|
3,819,750
|
|
2007-08
|
16,955
|
20,320
|
15,207,780
|
18,132,660
|
11,864,430
|
14,112,660
|
3,343,350
|
4,020,000
|
|
2008-09
|
17,870
|
21,130
|
16,250,880
|
19,190,280
|
12,636,180
|
14,901,780
|
3,614,700
|
4,288,500
|
|
2009-10
|
17,385
|
19,850
|
15,527,450
|
17,664,240
|
12,545,450
|
14,255,640
|
2,982,000
|
3,408,600
|
|
2010-11
|
16,660
|
18,115
|
12,939,870
|
14,237,350
|
12,939,870
|
14,237,350
|
0
|
0
|
|
2011-12
|
16,730
|
17,660
|
13,327,560
|
14,285,580
|
13,327,560
|
14,285,580
|
0
|
0
|
|
2012-13
|
17,400
|
18,115
|
13,544,105
|
14,273,090
|
13,544,105
|
14,273,090
|
0
|
0
|
|
2013-14
|
17,175
|
17,885
|
13,807,980
|
14,526,005
|
13,807,980
|
14,526,005
|
0
|
0
|
|
2014-15
|
16,300
|
16,875
|
12,864,120
|
13,620,240
|
12,864,120
|
13,620,240
|
0
|
0
|
|
Revision: The college EMA figures and total EMA figures for 2013-14 and 2014-15 have been revised.
|
|
The figures originally published on Wednesday 23 March 2016 were based on incomplete college EMA datasets.
|
|
Figures in this table have been rounded to the nearest 5.
|
|
|
|
|
Information about EMA payments made to young people in academic years 2004-05 and 2005-06 are available through the following links –
2004-05 – http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/06/21164517/45189
2005-06 - http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2006/11/13100200/0
Due to changes made to EMA eligibility criteria in the first years of roll out and improvements made to the data collection methodology in academic year 2006-07 which reduced double counting of recipients, direct comparison with later years and is not included in the table.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 November 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much it allocated in its budget for Education Maintenance Allowance payments in each of the last 12 years.
Answer
The following table details the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) budget set out in the Draft Budget from financial year 2004-05. The budget level is set to meet the cost of making EMA payments to recipients and the administration of the programme.
|
Year
|
Budget (£M)
|
|
2005-2006
|
28.4
|
|
2006-2007
|
37.1
|
|
2007-2008
|
42.6
|
|
2008-2009
|
36.7
|
|
2009-2010
|
36.5
|
|
2010-2011
|
31.6
|
|
2011-2012
|
31.6
|
|
2012-2013
|
31.6
|
|
2013-2014
|
31.6
|
|
2014-2015
|
29.6
|
|
2015-2016
|
29.6
|
|
2016-2017
|
39.6
|
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 31 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address the financial deficit that is reported to be facing 16 out of 20 colleges in the current financial year.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2016
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 31 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how many secondary school home economics (a) teachers and (b) students there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.
Answer
How many secondary school home economic (a) teachers there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority can be found in the Scottish Government's published teacher census supplementary tables 8.9 http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata and historical datasets: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PubTeacherCensus and is shown in this table:
|
Table 8.9: Secondary school teachers where main subject taught is 'Home Economics'
|
|
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
|
Aberdeen City
|
32
|
29
|
27
|
25
|
25
|
24
|
24
|
23
|
24
|
|
Aberdeenshire
|
42
|
36
|
40
|
37
|
35
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
|
Angus
|
28
|
28
|
26
|
25
|
25
|
23
|
27
|
23
|
23
|
|
Argyll & Bute
|
21
|
23
|
21
|
20
|
18
|
19
|
16
|
16
|
15
|
|
Clackmannanshire
|
11
|
9
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dumfries & Galloway
|
36
|
40
|
35
|
35
|
32
|
32
|
30
|
34
|
29
|
|
Dundee City
|
30
|
29
|
28
|
25
|
28
|
29
|
28
|
26
|
29
|
|
East Ayrshire
|
26
|
27
|
25
|
24
|
24
|
20
|
22
|
19
|
18
|
|
East Dunbartonshire
|
22
|
23
|
22
|
21
|
22
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
|
East Lothian
|
10
|
17
|
17
|
16
|
15
|
16
|
16
|
14
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
East Renfrewshire
|
18
|
18
|
19
|
21
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
19
|
19
|
|
Edinburgh, City of
|
56
|
62
|
61
|
58
|
59
|
54
|
52
|
57
|
53
|
|
Eilean Siar
|
9
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
9
|
|
Falkirk
|
31
|
29
|
30
|
28
|
31
|
30
|
27
|
28
|
28
|
|
Fife
|
70
|
65
|
59
|
53
|
57
|
56
|
58
|
61
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glasgow City
|
79
|
81
|
78
|
79
|
78
|
74
|
70
|
63
|
66
|
|
Highland
|
47
|
48
|
47
|
44
|
38
|
37
|
38
|
33
|
34
|
|
Inverclyde
|
19
|
18
|
17
|
16
|
15
|
17
|
16
|
15
|
12
|
|
Midlothian
|
20
|
18
|
19
|
17
|
16
|
16
|
17
|
17
|
15
|
|
Moray
|
22
|
21
|
18
|
19
|
18
|
19
|
18
|
18
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Ayrshire
|
29
|
28
|
25
|
23
|
23
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
19
|
|
North Lanarkshire
|
88
|
80
|
76
|
75
|
73
|
69
|
72
|
66
|
60
|
|
Orkney Islands
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
|
Perth & Kinross
|
26
|
29
|
25
|
25
|
27
|
27
|
25
|
28
|
27
|
|
Renfrewshire
|
34
|
30
|
29
|
28
|
27
|
27
|
26
|
25
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scottish Borders
|
27
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
22
|
21
|
22
|
20
|
20
|
|
Shetland Islands
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
6
|
7
|
6
|
|
South Ayrshire
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
24
|
24
|
23
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
|
South Lanarkshire
|
47
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
56
|
57
|
57
|
54
|
|
Stirling
|
16
|
14
|
13
|
12
|
13
|
12
|
13
|
11
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
West Dunbartonshire
|
22
|
21
|
19
|
20
|
18
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
|
West Lothian
|
34
|
35
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
34
|
32
|
28
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All local authorities
|
990
|
988
|
943
|
908
|
896
|
875
|
870
|
845
|
825
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant aided
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
(1) Excludes head teachers and depute head teachers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How many secondary school home economic (b) students there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority is not collected. However, the SQA website http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/64717.4239.html. has information on exam entries to each subject as well as grades and passes and historical data back to 2007 is at: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/57518.4241.html which may be of interest.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend legislation to extend planning controls on changing premises into betting shops.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2016
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reinstating the bursary for studying for an MSc in educational psychology, in light of the reported reduction in the number of applicants since it was removed in 2012.
Answer
Scottish Government funding for educational psychology students was introduced at a time when there was a significant shortage in the supply of educational psychologists compared to demand.
We are working with the National Scottish Steering Group for Educational Psychologists to take action, including exploring training provision, to ensure a sustainable and regular supply of educational psychologists to meet future needs.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported reduction in the number of (a) educational psychologists across local authorities and (b) applicants to MSc programmes in educational psychology.
Answer
It is for local authorities to take decisions around the number of educational psychologists they employ and how they fulfil their duty to provide a psychology service.
The National Scottish Steering Group for Educational Psychologists is continuing to monitor workforce planning data and trends including the number of applications to the MSc Educational Psychology courses. The group is taking action to ensure a sustainable and regular supply of educational psychologists.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much direct investment in college estates it has made in (a) real and (b) cash terms in each year since 2007, and how much it will provide in each of the next five years.
Answer
Funding made available by the Scottish Government to invest in college estates from 2007-08 to 2016-17, in cash terms, is shown in the following table. In addition, colleges have been awarded £10 million accelerated capital funding in 2016-17 to help improve existing estates, as included in the recent Programme for Government announcement.
|
Year
|
Cash Terms
(£m)
|
|
2007-08
|
122
|
|
2008-09
|
92
|
|
2009-2010
|
107
|
|
2010-2011
|
109
|
|
2011-2012
|
50
|
|
2012-2013
|
28
|
|
2013-2014
|
28
|
|
2014-2015
|
27
|
|
2015-2016
|
25.5
|
|
2016-2017
|
27
|
Real terms figures can be calculated using the GDP deflators available through the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/gdp-deflators-at-market-prices-and-money-gdp
Future capital budgets for the FE sector will be determined as part of the forthcoming Draft Budget process.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 29 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much it will provide in (a) real and (b) cash terms to the Scottish College for Educational Leadership in each of the next five years to support the "aspiring, new and experienced teachers" referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the Scottish College for Educational Leadership in providing a range of high-quality professional learning opportunities for all teachers and currently gives SCEL up to £1.3 million per year while also supporting the Into Headship programme at a cost of £1.5 million over the next three years. The Programme for Government confirmed that we will work with SCEL to put in place a new package of support for aspiring, new and experienced headteachers. This package is currently under discussion with SCEL and the level of funding will be confirmed further to the Spending Review.
