Questions and answers

Question reference: S2W-22473

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 30 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21876 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006, what action it sees as necessary to ensure “that the benefits of London 2012 are spread across the UK”, particularly to Scotland, and to avoid the findings of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report that the UK economy outwith London will be £2.8 billion worse off if no action is taken.

Question reference: S2W-21632

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 27 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20860 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 November 2005, whether the only way in which the Scottish Prison Service measures whether staff turnover adversely affects the performance of its services is by comparing the level of staff turnover to the UK average and by meeting performance targets set out by ministers.

Question reference: S2W-22732

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21863 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 January 2006, why this answer, which was given directly by the Minister for Justice, is in the same terms as the answer to question S2W-21858, which was answered on 20 January 2006 by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service on the minister’s behalf.

Question reference: S2W-22525

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Colin Boyd on 27 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been killed in accidents in the construction industry in each of the last five years and in how many of these accidents the ensuing safety investigation has led to criminal proceedings.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not hold the information requested. Information about the number of people killed in accidents in the construction industry can, however, be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive (www.hse.gov.uk).

Charges relating to deaths in the construction industry cannot be identified separately on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database from other health and safety charges relating to workers in any other industry.

Question reference: S2W-21891

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 26 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of the request by the Council of Europe for its members to communicate any knowledge they have regarding the transfer of individuals across European borders by the CIA as part of the process of extraordinary rendition in respect of any such transfers occurring within Scottish jurisdiction.

Question reference: S2W-22071

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made with the re-introduction of individual learning accounts; how many delivery organisations are participating in the scheme; what the breakdown is of participating learners by delivery agent, area and subject; how many employees have participated in the scheme, broken down by size of company and Local Enterprise Company (LEC) area; whether it will provide a breakdown and overall totals of the grants awarded; what outcomes such grants have achieved or are expected to achieve; whether there have been any complaints about the design or delivery of the scheme; which LEC areas are covered by the scheme; what budget has been allocated to the scheme in each of the financial years in which it has been operating; how much has actually been spent in each financial year; what budget has been set aside for the scheme in 2006-07; how many consultants have been involved in the scheme in each LEC area; what the total cost of these consultants has been in each financial year; whether the scheme has been evaluated and, if so, what the outcome was; who undertook any such evaluation and at what cost, and what the Executive's plans are for the future of the scheme.

Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) were re-introduced in December 2004 with the launch of the ILA Scotland scheme. The first phase of ILA Scotland has made available a funding offer of up to £200 per year (ILA200) to adult learners on low income or on benefits to fund a wide range of learning. A further ILA Scotland funding offer of up to £100 per year (ILA100) was rolled out in August 2005. This can be used to fund computer courses which are at or up to SCQF level 5 and which lead to a qualification or recognised certification.

There are 208 delivery organisations (learning providers) registered to offer courses. This comprises 10 higher education institutions (HEIs), 44 further education colleges (FECs), 28 community-based providers and 126 private providers.

Over 100,000 enquiries have been made to the ILA Scotland helpline since the scheme was launched. 24,200 people have opened an Individual Learning Account, 12,200 courses have been booked using ILA funding and nearly 9,000 account holders have already used their ILA funding to undertake learning. There have been 103 complaints in total since the start of the scheme, 45 regarding the design and 58 on delivery. However, there is currently only one opened complaint.

Breakdown of number of learners by learning provider:

Learning Provider	Number of Learners
@Ccess 2	4
Aberdeen City Council - Community Training Unit	24
Aberdeen College	417
Access North Ayr - Flexible Learning Centre	22
Ad Services (Scotland) Ltd	48
Adam Smith College – Fife College	150
Adelphi Flexible Learning Unit	15
Airhouse Studios	11
Angus College	122
Anniesland College	165
Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre	14
Argyll College	73
Argyll Training (Dunoon)	1
Argyll Training (Lochgilphead)	2
Argyll Training Ltd (Oban)	19
Auchincruive Enterprise Learning Centre	6
Ayr College	261
Badenoch Learning And Resource Centre	5
Balloch Trust Enterprise Ltd	54
Banff And Buchan College Of Further Education	355
Barony College	5
Bc Business Consultants - Hawick	1
Bell College	49
Bestworks Training Ltd	1
Borders College	126
Business Training Services (UK) Ltd	48
Cairellot Learning Centre	10
Cardonald College	306
Castle Douglas Community It Centre Ltd	71
Central College Of Commerce	155
Clackmannanshire Training and Learning Centre	6
Clydebank College	92
Coatbridge College	10
Columba Centre Islay - Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile	1
Cothrom	6
Craibstone Enterprise Learning Centre	22
Cumbernauld College	180
Dumfries and Galloway College	324
Dumfries and Galloway Libraries, Information And Archives	108
Dundee College	141
Dunfermline High School Community Use	30
East Renfrewshire Council - Barrhead Library	23
East Renfrewshire Council - Busby Library	3
East Renfrewshire Council - Clarkston Library	17
East Renfrewshire Council - Mearns Library	20
East Renfrewshire Council - Neilston Library	9
Ec-Pc	19
Edeta (Training Services) Ltd	22
Edinburgh Chamber Of Commerce	5
Edinburgh University Settlement (Eus) Community Learning Centre	1
Elgin Library Learning Centre	196
Elmwood College	90
Evolve International Safety Training Ltd	36
Eyemouth Learning Centre (Elttc)	4
Fife Women's Technology Centre	8
Forth Valley College - Clackmannan	67
Forth Valley College - Falkirk	188
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow College Of Nautical Studies	37
Gosta Training	11
Grainshore Training Centre	3
Gtg Training	55
Hairnet Computer Training	1
Heriot Watt University	3
Instep Initiatives Ltd	10
Interalia	5
Inverness College	179
Itca Ltd	3
Itec Integrations Ltd	1
James Watt College	185
Jewel And Esk Valley College	294
Jhp Edinburgh Business Centre	39
Jhp Group Ltd – Ayr	2
Jhp Group Ltd – Dumfries	11
Jhp Group Ltd - Motherwell	13
Jhp Group Ltd – Stirling	7
Jhp Training Paisley	7
Jim Mair Driver Training	9
John Wheatley College	25
Kilmarnock College	95
Lagta Group Training Ltd	13
Langside College	91
Lauder College	373
Learning It Ltd	5
Lews Castle College	31
Lochaber College	56
Lothian Training And Development	74
May-Tag Ltd.	4
Merkinch Technology Centre	9
Mettech (Grangemouth)	12
Microcom Training Ltd - Coatbridge	42
Microcom Training Ltd - Inverness	7
Minerva People Limited	14
Moray College	92
Motherwell College	159
Mycourse Ltd	46
National Counselling Service	22
National Extension College	16
Nisus Scotland	18
North Glasgow College	34
North Highland College	70
North West Training Centre	4
One36 Computing Ltd	44
Onsite Training Services	11
Orkney College	45
Pct Partnership	4
Perth College	136
Pitman Training - Forres	24
Pitman Training Centre (Edinburgh)	486
Prospects (Glasgow)	19
Reid Kerr College	267
Rewards (Scotland)	36
Ritchies Training Centre	43
Rosemount Lifelong Learning Flexicentre	28
Routes To Work South	20
Sabhal Mor Ostaig	68
Sanctuary Learning Centre Llp	8
Scotnursing Ltd	4
Sibbald Ltd	4
Skye And Lochalsh Learning Centre Network	58
Sos Training And Office Services	50
South Carrick Open Opportunities Project (Scoop)	11
South Lanarkshire College	112
Stevenson College Edinburgh	89
Stow College	66
Success Training (Scotland) Ltd	7
Support Training - Aberdeen	9
Support Training - Perth	15
Support Training Ltd (Shetland)	32
Support Training Ltd (Edinburgh)	12
Support Training Ltd (Orkney)	35
Telford Training And Consultancy Services	3
Tell Organisation	2
Training For Development	10
Training Initiatives Ltd (Tigers)	13
University Of Abertay Dundee	13
University Of Glasgow - Adult And Continuing Education	36
University Of Glasgow - Universal Training Solutions	18
University Of Paisley	62
University Of Strathclyde - Centre For Lifelong Learning	278
User Friendly Computer Services	6
Varis Training (Division Of Varis Engineering Ltd)	1
West Lothian College	206
Total	8,746

As ILA Scotland is available throughout Scotland, all LEC areas are covered. It has not been possible to provide a breakdown by LEC area or by employer.

Breakdown by subject:

Subject	Courses Booked
Business; Management; Office Studies	826
Sales Marketing and Retailing	20
Information Technology and Information	6,121
Humanities (History; Archaeology; Religious Studies; Philosophy	43
Politics; Economics; Law; Social Sciences	108
Area Studies; Cultural Studies; Languages; Literature	919
Education; Training; Teaching	427
Family Care; Personal Development; Personal Care and Appearance	703
Arts and Crafts	251
Communication; Media; Publishing	301
Performing Arts	13
Sports Games and Recreation	42
Catering; Food; Leisure Services; Tourism	101
Health Care; Medicine; Health and Safety	924
Environment Protection; Energy; Cleansing; Security	21
Sciences and Mathematics	274
Agriculture Horticulture and Animal Care	88
Construction and Property (Built Environment)	59
Services To Industry and Commerce	20
Manufacturing; Production Work	17
Engineering	100
Logistics; Distribution; Transport; Driving	299
Other	550
Total	12,227

The total amount of learner funding awarded to date is £1.2 million.

ILA Scotland is expected to achieve the following policy objectives: to widen participation in adult learning by increasing interest and uptake; to introduce new learners to adult learning and to provide an opportunity for those who have not recently participated in learning to do so; to encourage more learning progression; to encourage individuals to invest in (and take ownership of) their own learning; to prioritise the learning needs of certain groups of learners (in particular those on low incomes), and to support the development of a quality learning provider base in Scotland.

Budget allocated and actual spend by financial year:

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
Budget Allocated	£18.8 million	£19.3 million	£19.3 million
Actual Spend	£4.95 million	£4.3 million	-

There have been no consultants involved in ILA Scotland in the LEC areas.

Independent evaluation of the scheme is under way. A report of the first phase of evaluation will be published later this year. The British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) Scotland has been contracted to carry out evaluation of the scheme with learners. The total value of the contract is £135,125 inclusive of VAT. The Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning (CRLL) at Glasgow Caledonian University has been contracted to carry out evaluation of the scheme with learning providers and intermediary groups. The total value of the contract is £61,443 inclusive of VAT.

The outcomes of the evaluation, along with feedback from regular liaison with stakeholder and user groups, will inform policy review of ILA Scotland during 2006 and shape the future development of the scheme.

Question reference: S2W-22472

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 26 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21876 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006, how the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 relates to the Nations and Regions Group.

The Nations and Regions Group is a UK level group which has been established to ensure that the London Olympic Games provide benefits to all nations and regions within the UK. Each nation and region represented on the Nations and Regions Group has been asked to form its own committee to consider how that particular nation or region will contribute to and benefit from London 2012. The Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 is the relevant committee for Scotland. Julia Bracewell, chair of sportscotland, chairs the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 and is Scotland’s representative on the Nations and Regions Group.

Question reference: S2W-22465

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 26 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21640 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006, to which nation the answer refers.

The answer refers to the United Kingdom. The Scottish Executive also believes Scotland will benefit from London 2012 for the reasons given in answers to S2W-21640 on 12 January 2006, S2W-17564 on18 July 2005, and S2W-17561 on 18 July 2005.

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/wa.search

Question reference: S2W-22475

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 26 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the organisers of the London 2012 Olympics to assess the veracity of the statement allegedly made by a “senior figure” in the organisation team for that event in respect of the Scottish Football Association’s decision not to participate in a British football team, “Does this make us more inclined to forget about Hampden Park and consider other options? Sure it does, of course it does”, as reported in The Scotsman on 12 November 2005.

Question reference: S2W-22464

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
Current Status: Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 26 January 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21640 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006 which refers to the “benefits to a nation from hosting the Olympic Games” as being “well established”, how this relates to the Executive’s responsibility to represent the national interest of Scotland, given that no future Olympic Games assigned a host city is within Scotland.

Chamber and committees