- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to concerns expressed by the British Association of Social Workers that directors and other chief officers in charge of social work have been excluded from the new arrangements for the regulation of care as set out in The Way Forward for Care.
Answer
Directors and other chief officers responsible for social workers and social care services are not excluded from the new arrangements. They will be expected to follow the code of practice for those employing social service workers. In addition, those who are professional social workers will register as such with the Scottish Social Services Council.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 10 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how teachers are prepared, though initial training and continuing professional development, to promote and develop pupils' Scots language skills.
Answer
Guidelines for initial teacher education in Scotland require institutions to prepare teachers to be responsive to the needs of all pupils in respect of linguistic background.Courses prepare teachers to deliver the curriculum as set out in guidance such as the 5-14 guidelines.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 10 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken, either by itself or jointly with Her Majesty's Government, to mark European Day of Disabled Persons on 5 December 2000 and to raise public awareness of the issues which impact on disabled people.
Answer
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) was launched in Scotland by the Minister for Social Justice on European Day of Disabled Persons. The Scottish Executive looks to work closely with the DRC to raise public awareness of the issues which impact on disabled people.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 9 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Deputy Minister for Sport and Culture in the Parliament on 9 November 2000, why there was no specific reference to support for voluntary sector sports clubs or local Sports Councils
Answer
The Executive fully recognise the vital role played by volunteers in clubs and local sports councils in the local delivery of sport in Scotland, and we, and sportscotland, are committed to seeing it developed further and I expect the positive outcome of the spending review for sportscotland announced on 9 November will be of benefit to all engaged in sport in Scotland. I understand, for example, that sportscotland will soon introduce a club development programme which will benefit local clubs. It is also promoting a volunteer development programme in conjunction with the Scottish Association of Local Sports Council (SALSC), the umbrella body of local sports councils, and local authorities. sportscotland supports SALSC through an annual grant currently at £21,000. Funding for local sports councils is a matter for individual local authorities.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 8 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what circumstances prompted the merger of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum and the Scottish Council for Educational Technology to form Learning and Teaching Scotland and what the implications of the merger are for the work plans and development strategies for both organisations.
Answer
The merger followed Policy Reviews of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum (SCCC) and the Scottish Council for Educational Technology (SCET) in 1997 and 1998 respectively and subsequent extensive Government consultation.
The development strategy and work plan of Learning and Teaching Scotland will encompass those of the former SCCC and SCET to form a coherent programme across ICT and curricular issues to shape the future of learning in Scotland. LT Scotland's plans will be made available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 4 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the establishment of the Children's Change Fund announced by the First Minister on 13 November 2000.
Answer
As the First Minister indicated on 13 November 2000, we intend to consult local authorities, the health service and the voluntary sector on the fund. We expect to issue a consultation paper for that purpose next month.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 4 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10039 by Iain Gray on 30 October 2000, what plans it now has to secure the continuation of the work done by Disability Scotland before it entered administrative insolvency.
Answer
Efforts to secure the good work of Disability Scotland are still ongoing. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is convening a meeting between the interested parties early in the New Year to discuss how to effect continuation of support services for disabled people previously provided by Disability Scotland.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10326 on 26 October 2000, over what timescale and by what means it intends to (a) monitor the implementation of the Child Strategy Statement by all departments of the Scottish Executive and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy statement in this context.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10757.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10326 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 26 October 2000, over what timescale and by what means it intends to (a) monitor the implementation of the Child Strategy Statement by local authorities and other public bodies and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy statement in this context.
Answer
The Child Strategy Statement is primarily a document for the Scottish Executive. Its effectiveness in that context will be monitored by the Scottish Executive Education Department who will report to me. This will include monitoring of Scottish Cabinet papers and in-depth studies of particular policy areas.
We have commended the approach set out in the statement to local authorities and a range of other public bodies. We have no plans formally to police its use but we do expect it to lead to better outcomes for children.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10326 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 26 October 2000, what penalties there will be for failure by any local authority, public body or Scottish Executive department to adopt the principles set out in the Child Strategy Statement.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10757.
