Chamber and committees

The 14 primary schools in condition C in Renfrewshire as noted in table 6.1 of School Estate Statistics 2009 are:

Auchenlodment Primary School;

Brediland Primary School;

Howwood Primary School;

Kirklandneuk Primary School;

Lochfield Primary School;

Moorpark Primary School;

Ralston Primary School;

St Anthony''s Primary School;

St Fergus''s Primary School;

St James''s Primary School (Renfrew);

St Mary''s Primary School;

St Paul''s Primary School;

St Peter''s Primary School, and

West Primary School.

The First Minister''s quote referred to short-selling spivs and speculators. From July through to September 2008, short-selling on HBOS shares was taking place at a higher than normal volume. It was also clear that this practice was giving rise to disorderly markets and the fact that regulators across the world took action to prevent further abuse at that time is evidence of this. For example, in the UK, the Financial Services Authority introduced a ban on short-selling shares in financial institutions on the 18 September 2008, with other countries following suit shortly afterwards.

Estimates of the employment impacts of the accelerated capital spending programme have been produced using the Scottish Government input-output model. Details of the number of jobs supported in the Scottish economy over the period of the programme can be found in the Economy Recovery Plan: Update document, which was published on 29 October 2009.

The Scottish Government reviews the effectiveness of recent financial market policy interventions for the Scottish financial sector and monitors the impact and performance of the sector through various channels, including consultation with the industry though the Financial Services Advisory Board (FiSAB) and regular contact with Scottish Financial Enterprise and individual financial services businesses. This is taken forward by a number of ministers with relevant responsibilities.

The Scottish Government has concerns about the level of competition in the banking sector and our SME Access to Finance Survey highlighted the extent to which two banks are the main providers of finance to SMEs in Scotland with around three quarters of the market share. However, the current evidence around levels of competition from the survey relates primarily to the provision of finance to Scottish businesses, and not to the broader range of financial services provided by banks such as retail banking.

Any action to improve competition, for example, moves to force banks to sell parts of their existing business, to meet European State Aid rules, must take account of the impact that any restructuring will have on improving stability in financial markets, on Scottish businesses, consumers, and the wider economy.

Scottish Government officials are working closely with HM Treasury officials in considering which proposals are to be implemented in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28025 on 5 November 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The three primary schools in Renfrewshire which had a roll less than 50% of capacity in 2008-09, as stated in table 7.1 of the School Estate Statistics 2009 are:

Mossvale Primary School;

South Primary School, and

St John Bosco Primary School.

Yes, and these views have been expressed to both COSLA and Renfrewshire Council but we also acknowledge that Renfrewshire have still managed to reduce their average primary class sizes in order to benefit the teaching and learning of their primary pupils.

Yes, and those concerns have been expressed to both COSLA and Renfrewshire Council. It is encouraging to note, however, that despite the reduction in teacher numbers in Renfrewshire Council schools between the 2007 census and the 2008 census, the average primary class size fell from 24.1 to 23.7 over the same period.