Chamber and committees

Decisions about the provision of instrumental music tuition, including policies for access, concessions and charging, are for each local authority according to local priorities, demands, circumstances and traditions.

Information on the government’s work on instrumental music can be viewed at:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/InstrumentalMusic

<>Information about the number of families who have qualified for free school meals is not held centrally. However, latest statistics on free school meals were published on 22 June 2016 in the Scottish Government statistics publication - Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living, No. 6: 2016 Edition. Table 1 in the accompanying supplementary data, provides details of the number of children and young people in primary, secondary and special school registered for free school meals in each year from 2007. This can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/MealsSD/mealspesd/mealspesd2016.

We are undertaking a data transformation project for children in early learning and childcare to ensure we have data that reflects recent policy changes and ongoing transformation. This includes looking at free school meal uptake in early learning and childcare as increasing flexibility results in more children attending during lunch times. In addition, under the Education (Scotland) Act 2016, children receiving their funded entitlement to early learning and childcare at partner providers are now eligible for a free school meal where they meet the criteria and have a session in the middle of the day. This will also need to be added to our consideration of data collections and analysis once this part of the Act is fully commenced in 2017 (this can currently be delivered on a voluntary basis by local authorities).

<>Scottish Ministers continue to discuss the provision of school clothing grants and appropriate timescales for implementation with COSLA. We intend to achieve this in partnership with COSLA rather than by imposing regulations, in the same way that we have successfully implemented universal free school meals for Primary 1 to 3. However, the regulation-making power provides an alternative route should this not prove possible.

The Scottish Government does not provide guidance to local authorities on charging for music tuition.

Local authorities determine their own polices on, for example, tuition costs, concession rates, selection procedures, available instruments and hire and additional activities. The improvement service yearly (since 2012) survey is a key tool which enables local authorities to reflect on their policies and practices:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/InstrumentalMusic/ImplementationGroup

The Scottish Government will ensure that all local authorities and schools are aware of the eligibility and award criteria for school clothing grants following discussions with COSLA. Guidance will be provided as appropriate.

The Scottish Government has regular discussions on a wide range of subjects with Creative Scotland but has not recently discussed specific support for contemporary musicians. Occasionally musicians write to the Scottish Government about opportunities for support for them and they are directed to Creative Scotland's advice service.

The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 requires Scottish Ministers, when determining whether a property factor is fit and proper, to consider whether the factor, or any relevant person connected with the factor:

has been convicted of any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, violence or drugs;

has any court or tribunal judgments against them under the Equalities Act 2010, the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion Or Belief) Regulations 2003;

has contravened any provision of the law relating to tenements, property or debt.

As the Act does not give Scottish Ministers specific investigatory powers their ability to monitor the effectiveness of the fit and proper test is limited. Within those limits, Scottish Ministers consider any relevant information provided by the property factor or a third party and will take steps to review an entry on the register if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that information provided is, or has become, inaccurate. They may also require the person to provide a criminal conviction certificate as evidence to support the information provided in the application.

<>The Homeowner Housing Panel (HoHP) is an independent tribunal established under the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 (the Act) to deal with disputes between homeowners and property factors. The Act came into force on 1 October 2012.

Information on the number of property factor enforcement orders issued each year by the HoHP is included in its annual report which is laid before the Scottish Parliament. The reports are published at: https://hohp.scotland.gov.uk/who-we-are-hohp/annual-reports.

<>The Scottish Government does not intend to introduce a fee for homeowners to apply to the Homeowner Housing Panel.

As part of numerous industry forums, both current (Rutherglen junction) and planned (Carstairs junction) enhancements to the west coast main line are regularly discussed with operators.

Indeed, the working group and board of the Scotland route study, at which both transport Scotland and cross-border train operating companies are represented, has regularly looked at future demand projections and potential investment for each of the main corridors in Scotland, including the west coast main line.