- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether having exclusive access to at least four modern computers for every class fits its definition of specific outcomes.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30126 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's Website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether the provision of classroom computers is relevant for monitoring area-based deprivation relevant to the national average.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has provided £80 million to local authorities through the National Grid for Learning programme of the Excellence Fund in order to help them achieve a number of ICT-related targets in their schools, including pupil:modern computer ratios of 7.5:1 in primary schools and 5:1 in secondary schools. Local authorities and schools decide how to deploy those computers.The provision of ICT facilities is one of a number of important inputs to education. However, success in closing the gap between deprived areas and the rest of Scotland is best determined by looking at the outcomes of education.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether having exclusive access to at least four modern computers for every class is one of its targets.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30126 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's Website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29341 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether house-breaking is the only criminal activity that is relevant for monitoring area-based deprivation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30123 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29339 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether house-breaking is the only criminal activity that indicates a gap between deprived areas and the rest of Scotland.
Answer
House-breaking was chosen from a number of possible indicators as it is appropriate for monitoring area-based deprivation relevant to the national average and because the necessary data will be available at local area level for the baseline year of 2003-04.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29340 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether its spending proposals for 2003-06 will lessen the gap in the figures for entry into higher and further education between people from deprived areas and those from the rest of Scotland.
Answer
Widening access to learning opportunities for those from disadvantaged areas continues to be a priority. Funds awarded for the period from 2003-06 will continue to support initiatives in this area and the Executive will continue to monitor the impact of these initiatives.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether it intends to use the small basket of indicators rather than those in Social Justice Annual Report Scotland 2001 - A Scotland where everyone matters to measure progress on social justice.
Answer
No. The small basket of indicators, which are based on existing targets including social justice milestones, is intended to offer an additional means of measuring progress on social justice.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, how it reached its decisions on which indicators relate to the achievement of specific outcomes and which are relevant for monitoring area-based deprivation.
Answer
The decisions were reached on the basis of the criteria set out in the answer given to question S1W-29338 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29340 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether figures on entry into higher and further education indicate a gap between deprived areas and the rest of Scotland.
Answer
Yes. However, the most recent data available indicates that this gap is narrowing. Between 1998-99 and 2000-01 the percentage of further education students from "High Deprivation" areas increased from 18% to 24% and from "Above Average" deprivation areas from 17% to 22%.Information available on entry into higher education institutions is found in the Performance Indicators on Higher Education (HE) in the UK, published by the Higher Education Funding Councils in December 2001. Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18498). Table 1a of these indicators shows that the proportion of young full-time first degree entrants to HE from low participation neighbourhoods increased from 16% in 1997-98 to 18% in 1999-2000.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Civil Service Commissioners were involved in its decision to employ 40 policy analysts.
Answer
The Civil Service Commissioners were not involved.
