- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the presentation rate was for candidates sitting Higher examinations in (a) further education colleges and (b) the secondary school sector, in each of the last three years.
Answer
The number of Higher entries for school and further education/other centres are set out in the table.
Year | Total Number of Higher Entries | Secondary School Higher Entries | Further Education and External Entries |
1997-98 | 163,817 | 157,332 | 6,485 |
1998-99 | 160,919 | 154,930 | 5,989 |
1999-2000 | 163,517 | 157,259 | 6,258 |
Higher refers to old SCE Highers and new National Qualifications at Higher level.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17830 by Susan Deacon on 12 October 2001, how long patients in each NHS board area will now have to wait, on average, to receive equipment for the treatment of sleep apnoea.
Answer
It is not possible to give an average waiting time in each area. Following assessment and diagnosis in their own areas, patients considered to be suffering from sleep apnoea are referred to the Sleep Centre in Edinburgh. Decisions on the need for a CPAP machine are taken at that stage. Waiting times, therefore, differ, based on the length of time taken at the various stages of the process.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17830 by Susan Deacon on 12 October 2001, how "clinical priority" is defined with reference to sleep apnoea and whether all NHS boards use the same definition.
Answer
Definitions of clinical priority are a matter for clinicians. I understand from NHS Lothian that clinical priority in relation to sleep apnoea is defined by reference to risk categories. I further understand that this approach to clinical prioritisation has been shared with other NHS boards.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 9 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on early years services, excluding mainstream education, in each local authority area in each of the past three years.
Answer
Local authorities provide a range of early years services. Information which separates mainstream and other service provision is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average daily amount spent on purchasing food for school lunches is per pupil and what the average cost to pupils is for a school meal, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
Information contained in the annual Local Financial Returns to the Scottish Executive of expenditure by education authorities provides some information about total expenditure on, and income from, school meals. However, the information collected does not include the cost of purchasing food for school lunches nor the average cost to pupils for a school meal.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 6 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, what plans it has to legislate to introduce a duty on education authorities to prepare and implement an accessibility strategy for disabled pupils in line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and, if it has no plans to legislate, how will it ensure that disabled pupils in Scotland are not disadvantaged in terms of access to schools, school facilities and the curriculum compared to children in England and Wales.
Answer
The Scottish Executive published, on 9 October 2001, a consultation paper on the draft Education (Disability Strategies & Pupils' Records) Bill. This Bill will bring forward, in Scotland, a similar duty to that in sections 14 and 15 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. Education authorities and independent and grant-aided schools will be required to prepare accessibility strategies to progressively improve access for pupils with disabilities to the school environment, the curriculum and school information. A copy of the draft Bill is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 16741) or on the Scottish Executive website (www.scotland.gov.uk) under consultations.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be to local authorities of paying for criminal record checks for staff and volunteers when the new arrangements begin next year and whether it will make any assistance available to help meet these costs.
Answer
The relevant legislation makes the individual applicant or job seeker responsible for the payment of the appropriate fee. Prospective employers may reimburse the applicant but that would be entirely a matter for them to decide. We are making available £1 million per annum so that volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults in the voluntary sector may have criminal record checks carried out, without cost to them or to the voluntary organisations concerned. We are presently examining the possibility of extending free checks to such volunteers in the statutory sector.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the central registered body to be established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 will be operational.
Answer
Volunteer Development Scotland has agreed to act as the central registered body from January 2002 to assist the voluntary sector with Part V prior to the new certificates becoming available from April 2002. VDS is currently advertising to fill key posts within the central body.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16582 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 July 2001, when comprehensive information will be provided to voluntary sector organisations to assist them in meeting their obligations under Part V of the Police Act 1997.
Answer
An information brochure on the new disclosure system is in the final stages of preparation and should be generally available within the next few weeks. In addition to this, the Scottish Criminal Record Office is setting up a series of seminars at various locations across Scotland for organisations considering becoming registered for the purposes of accessing the new system. The seminars will provide a more detailed insight into the new processes and will give organisations an opportunity to ask questions on particular matters which may concern them. A website will shortly be available to promote the new disclosure system on a wider basis.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 29 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16678 by Allan Wilson on 24 August 2001, what level of qualification and expertise is required by the Official in Charge of Show, attending doctors, referees and head coaches in order for them to carry the responsibility for the safety of those taking part in boxing.
Answer
The Official in Charge of Show must be a referee or judge and referees must hold an Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd (ABS Ltd) referees certificate. When referees reach the age of 60 they must sit a further medical examination. Attending doctors must be a member of the British Medical Association and head coaches must hold an ABS Ltd coaches certificate.
