SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Oligohydramnios
To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are in place to ensure that signs and symptoms associated with oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid) are identified in the third trimester of pregnancy, particularly after the due date. (S3O-2150)
The "Framework for maternity services in Scotland" describes the schedule of routine care that all pregnant women should receive. Integral to that is routine examination to ensure maternal and foetal well-being and to identify any deviations from the normal, including low amniotic fluid.
My question arises from the heartbreaking circumstances that a constituent brought to my attention in which her sister's baby was stillborn 12 days past the due date in November as a result of amniotic fluid deficiency. Is the minister aware that the condition is relatively easily checked out by an ultrasound scan? As the consequences of leaving the condition undetected can be tragic, will the minister consider instructing an investigation into more rigorous procedures for detection and prevention, particularly after the due date has been reached? Will she assure us that she will give urgent attention to the issue, which is literally a matter of life or death?
A woman should have continuous risk assessment throughout her pregnancy, which should take into account the risk status, which might change over time. Consideration should be given to the fact that a woman can move between levels of care throughout a pregnancy. The level of care that is given should reflect that and should be managed under local guidelines and referral arrangements. A risk assessment should be repeated towards the end of a pregnancy, to provide up-to-date information to allow a woman and her carers to reassess plans for childbirth.
Science Education (Support)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its education and lifelong learning department is doing through the Scottish universities physics alliance to support science. (S3O-2138)
The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council has provided £6.9 million to support the Scottish universities physics alliance, which aims to strengthen physics research. The initiative is still at an early phase, but it has succeeded in attracting excellent international researchers and graduate students to Scotland.
Is the cabinet secretary aware that the Scottish funding council's delay to decisions on funding for the Scottish universities physics alliance could threaten jobs and research programmes? Is she aware of the benefit of such programmes to the Scottish economy and to innovation in science? Will she reassure me that she will do all that she can to ensure that, whatever decisions are taken elsewhere, stand-alone projects and programmes in Scotland receive her backing and the scientific community in Scotland is fully aware of the support for it from the Parliament and the Executive?
The Government is very supportive of the pooling arrangements, of which SUPA is one part. The only delay to funding has resulted from the delay to Westminster's funding arrangements for the budget settlement. The allocations to universities from the funding council were discussed at a meeting last week.
I join David Caldwell, who is the director of Universities Scotland, in welcoming the additional £10 million that the Government has given the higher education sector. I ask for details about the possibility of a concordat with higher education institutions. I hope that—
The question was on support for science, Mr Doris.
And higher education.
It was specifically on support for science.
Will support for science be part of any future concordat with higher education institutions?
You are learning fast, Mr Doris.
I thank the member for his recognition that I managed to release £10 million from our budgets this year to support the university sector. That money has been warmly welcomed by all concerned.
Does the minister agree that the £10 million that has been mentioned will merely pay for salary rises for university lecturers? Does she agree that a significant funding gap still exists?
I repeat that the question was on support for science. However, the minister may answer the member's question.
I am delighted that the Government will give a higher percentage of the total budget to the university sector over the next spending review period than the previous Government did over a similar spending review period. Moreover, the Government will carry through what it said about supporting universities with in-year flexibility. I am delighted to say that the £10 million that I have released from my budget will help to tackle staffing pressures in universities. We committed to doing that, and we have delivered on that.
Class Sizes (Parental Choice)
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has been given on the impact on parental choice legislation of its pledge to reduce class sizes to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3. (S3O-2124)
As members may be aware, the Scottish Government's practice is neither to confirm nor to deny whether legal advice has been received on any issue.
I thank the minister for her answer, although it is not particularly helpful.
I am pleased to say that the Government has a positive and constructive relationship with local government—indeed, I had a positive meeting on class sizes with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities only this week. My officials have met representatives of a number of local authorities—six, I think—to discuss the practical implications of the popular policy of reducing class sizes. One important thing about Scottish education is that the vast majority of parents want to send their children to local schools because those schools are effective and excellent. It is important that that continues.
Sheriff Principal (Glasgow and Strathkelvin) (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the sheriff principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin. (S3O-2153)
Scottish Government officials frequently meet the sheriff principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin to discuss a range of matters.
I met Sheriff Principal Taylor 10 days ago to discuss the operation of the family court contact centre in his area. As the minister will know, that centre is run by volunteers who do an excellent job, but demand for their services outstrips supply and the centre is not always open because they are volunteers. As a result, one of my constituents did not see his son at all in December. The sheriffs and the family courts know that that is a problem, as is the fact that contact orders are too often broken.
Will you ask a question, please, Mr Whitton?
I am coming to it, Presiding Officer.
Quickly, I hope.
I am sorry.
I am aware of Mr Whitton's interest in the issue, which he is right to raise, and I have seen correspondence with a ministerial colleague. We must ensure that the child remains at the centre of things. Some parents—often fathers—have difficulties maintaining contact with their children. The Government provides funding for contact centres through Family Mediation Scotland, which provides a range of support. We are happy to consider the issue. We have taken the position that the previous Administration correctly took.
Language Learning (Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to language learning in schools. (S3O-2145)
The Government places great importance on people learning languages so that they can extend their horizons and widen their opportunities in later life. The draft outcomes and experiences for modern languages in the curriculum for excellence programme will raise the bar in respect of our expectations of what young people can achieve with their modern languages learning. Language learning in schools has a key role to play in ensuring that our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.
Is the minister aware of the partnership project in my area that involves Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, Prestwick airport and local schools? The aim of the project is to produce a five-minute film in a modern language to attract visitors to Ayrshire. Does she agree that such projects should be promoted and supported? Is she aware of the genuine concern of educationists—it was expressed as recently as yesterday—about whether such projects will continue to be funded as a result of the removal of ring fencing for the modern languages budget?
I reassure the member that there is absolutely no reason why such innovative and good projects should not continue and be extended throughout Scotland as good practice.
I am sure that the minister is aware of recent research by the University of Edinburgh that shows the advantages of learning Gaelic as a second language—and, indeed, the advantages of bilingualism as a whole. Given the success of the likes of Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis in expanding Gaelic education, what measures is the Scottish Government taking to capitalise on current successes?
As I said in my earlier reply, we are keen to ensure that good practice in the development and teaching of languages—whether Gaelic or any foreign language—is rolled out across Scotland. It is important that our youngsters can speak a second language. Employers will be keen to take them on, as they can train them in whichever language they want for their business. It is important that we show that our young learners are competent in foreign languages.
British Council Symposium
To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions it drew from the recent British Council symposium, "Scotland's Place in the World". (S3O-2079)
The conference was a particularly good opportunity to hear a range of academic and expert opinions on how Scotland might approach what is nowadays sometimes called public diplomacy. I am finding those opinions useful in drawing up the Government's international strategic framework, which will set out how we will pursue sustainable economic growth by promoting Scotland as a great place to live, learn, visit, work, do business and invest.
I welcome that framework and the opportunity to showcase Scottish culture in other lands. Does the minister have plans to promote Scottish performance arts in Stavanger and Liverpool, which are this year's European capitals of culture? What support does she propose to provide to encourage Scottish performers and artists who play in other countries to bring similar artists from those countries to play in Scotland?
First, relative to Stavanger and Liverpool, the organisers of Stavanger 2008 have initiated an exchange project with Scotland called the North Sea project. It includes a variety of cultural activities and has some support from the Scottish Arts Council, which is also supporting Scottish dance groups to appear at Liverpool 2008. It is crucial that we take maximum advantage of our wonderful culture in our promotion of Scotland overseas. One example of that, which I attended recently, was the showcasing event at Celtic Connections, which has grown over the years into a week of events for promoters and others from throughout the world to come and see Scottish music at its best. That is something that we should be proud of and build upon.
Does the minister agree that Scotland's place in the world is exactly what it has been for the past 300 years, which is one of the four partners in one of the most successful political unions the world has ever seen?
I look forward to the day when Scotland can take its true place in the world. That is what I am working towards.
Does the minister agree that apart from the wonderful Eddi Reader, the highlight of the symposium was a presentation on the play "Black Watch" in America by an American professor? I congratulate the National Theatre of Scotland on its outstanding success with that and other works. Does the minister acknowledge the foresight of the previous Administration in agreeing to establish and fund a national theatre? Will she undertake to increase funding over the next few years to that outstanding theatre company?
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the presentation, which I think was from Professor Merrill. I heard that it was excellent. He talked about the role of cultural diplomacy in the promotion of Scotland and the huge advantage in that of Scotland's fantastic culture. Everyone knows how successful "Black Watch" has been. The establishment of the National Theatre of Scotland was welcomed across the political board. Is it not fantastic that it is here? Everyone also knows that the Government will always support and promote its national companies, at home and overseas, for maximum advantage for this nation.
Eastern European Languages (Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage the teaching of eastern European languages in schools. (S3O-2078)
It is up to local authorities, in dialogue with schools, to decide what range of languages will be offered in schools to reflect local needs and priorities. Ministers are aware that some education authorities are under pressure to accommodate the needs of children who have English as an additional language. Officials have had meetings at senior level with representatives of the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Scottish EAL co-ordinating council to discuss those issues. The recently announced funding and delivery partnerships between the Scottish Government and local government contain measures to address additional support needs in education, including those arising from EAL.
Does the minister agree that encouraging social, cultural and economic links with eastern European accession states and non-European Union nations such as Russia and Ukraine is vital to secure bilateral economic growth and political stability in the east? Does she further agree that encouraging the teaching of eastern European languages in our schools, alongside French, Spanish, German and indigenous Scottish languages, will help to ensure that Scottish businesses have the personnel available to market our country in eastern Europe and thus secure jobs and investment here in Scotland?
Yes. As I said in reply to a previous question, learning more languages will help to strengthen economic and political benefits. As many people are coming to Scotland from the eastern European accession states, it is right that schools embrace the languages of those cultures. In some schools, the children themselves are asking to learn the languages of the new pupils. That is great because in the long term it will secure economic and political benefits for Scotland and help business growth in Scotland, which is precisely what the Government wants.
A brief supplementary, please, from Rhona Brankin.
The minister mentioned that pupils who speak other languages are covered by additional support for learning. The Scottish National Party's manifesto promised an additional £30 million for an additional support for learning fund. Where is it? Is it another example of another broken promise?
An equally brief answer, please, minister.
It is still there.
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