- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14208 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 May 2001, when a report on its review of devolved school management will be published.
Answer
The DSM Review Group expects to publish their report in late August.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of launching, publishing and distributing its Greater Protection for Hutters consultation document.
Answer
The cost of designing, printing, copying and distributing copies of the consultation paper was in the region of £1,500.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14208 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 May 2001, when a report on its collaborative review of initial teacher education will be published.
Answer
The answer to question S1W-15074 described the Collaborative Review of Initial Teacher Education as a departmental consultation exercise. May I take this opportunity to correct that statement. The consultation should have been listed as "Collaborative Review of Initial Teacher Education." The inclusion of the word "department" was a typographical error and I offer my apologies for any confusion this has caused.The new process of collaborative review is aimed at enhancing quality assurance arrangements in Initial Teacher Education in Scotland. The process will evaluate against the Standard for Initial Teacher Education issued on 26 February 2001. This document was included as an annex in the handbook produced by the Standing Committee on Quality Assurance in Initial Teacher Education.The Standing Committee issued the handbook for comment to all local education authorities, teacher education institutions and other key educational stakeholders on 26 February 2001 for comment by 6 April.A total of 26 organisations responded. These comments will be incorporated along with the outcomes of a Pilot Review (September 2001-April 2002) leading to a revised version of the handbook being produced in time for the Review Cycle beginning in September 2002.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14189 by Sarah Boyack on 28 March 2001, what types of schemes to improve road safety on the A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich it will be discussing with the new operating company with responsibility for this stretch of road and when any such discussions will take place.
Answer
The Scottish Executive convened a meeting on 5 June 2001 with BEAR Scotland Ltd and the Balquhidder Community Council to discuss progress on various matters relating to improvement works on the A85 at Lochearnhead. These include:- alterations to the A84/A85 junction;- provision of a footway;- provision of street lighting;- village gateway signing.It is anticipated that these schemes will be implemented this financial year, subject to agreements being reached on land acquisition. Balquhidder Community Council will be consulted further as details of these proposals are developed.A separate meeting between the Scottish Executive and BEAR Scotland Ltd was also convened on 5 June 2001 to discuss the implementation of the recommendations outlined in a Safety Audit Report for the cycle crossing at Glen Ogle.A further meeting has been arranged for 12 July 2001 between the Scottish Executive and BEAR Scotland Ltd to review the results of the preliminary study that has been completed to identify possible improvements on the A85 trunk road between Lochearnhead and Lix Toll.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8650 by Sarah Boyack on 14 August 2000, how many personal injury accidents occurred on the A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich in each year from 1990 to 1994.
Answer
Details of the personal injury accidents which have occurred on the A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich for each year from 1990 to 1994 is as follows:
| A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich: Injury Accidents (1990-94) |
| Year | Fatal | Serious | Slight | Total |
| 1990 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 1991 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 1992 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1994 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Total | 0 | 15 | 21 | 36 |
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14208 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 May 2001, when a report on its consultation on the proposed transfer of DSS resources to local authorities for young people leaving care will be published.
Answer
In response to question S1W-2680, Mr Sam Galbraith announced the results of the consultation, which showed a majority support for the principle of a general fund. He also announced the setting up of an implementation group, comprising representatives from key stakeholders, to consider the implications of the transfer of resources for improved aftercare.I expect the group to report its recommendations in the autumn. We will then consult on detailed proposals.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 6 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14208 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 May 2001, when a report on its consultation on national priorities for schools education in Scotland will be published.
Answer
The report summarising responses to the consultation on national priorities for school education was sent to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament in December 2000. I have now instructed that it be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14481).
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 4 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current target is for the reduction of exclusions and truancy in schools and what the timescale is for achievement of this target.
Answer
The target of reducing by one third of the days lost every year through exclusions from school and truancy is set out in Milestone 10 in the Social Justice Action Plan. No timescale is specified in this target, but I expect education authorities to deliver year-on-year improvements. The recent report of the Discipline Task Group made a number of recommendations which will help to reduce exclusions and truancy. Headteachers should continue to use exclusion as a last resort, but our efforts need to concentrate on positive learning environments for young people. Targets will now be set with this in mind.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 4 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish in its next annual social justice report (a) details of current levels of school truancy and exclusions and (b) any associated targets.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to reporting annually on our progress in achieving our social justice targets and milestones, which includes the milestone of reducing by one third the days lost every year through exclusions from school and truancy. Data for 1999-2000 will be reported in the next Social Justice Annual Report.
- Asked by: Mr Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 2 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority is properly and legally constituted according to the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 and, in particular, whether it has at least 15 board members (including a chairman) of which 12 (including the chairman) have been appointed by the Scottish Executive.
Answer
The composition of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is prescribed in section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. At present the SQA comprises 12 members including the Chair and Chief Executive. Seven of these have been appointed by Scottish ministers or their predecessors. Steps are being taken to appoint new members. Schedule 1, paragraph 10(3) of the 1996 Act states "The proceedings of SQA and of any committee established by it shall not be invalidated by any vacancy amongst its members or the members of such committee or by any defect in the appointment of such member or failure to comply with any requirement of paragraph 11 [Conflict of interest] or 12 [Confidentiality of information] below".
