- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any difficulties with results or certificate delivery have been encountered by candidates in this year's Scottish Qualifications Authority exams who were taking a combination of Higher Still, National Certificate modules and/or Higher National units.
Answer
I am not aware of any candidates so affected. The Scottish Qualifications Authority's focus on resolving the problems experienced with results of national awards taken in schools and colleges has inevitably led to some delay in the processing of certificates for Higher National and National Certificate Group Awards and units. It is anticipated that the normal monthly cycle of certification for these awards will be in operation by the end of October.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority has had any difficulties with the production of this year's results or with the delivery of certificates in respect of Higher National Certificate courses and National Certificate courses and modules.
Answer
The priority for the Scottish Qualifications Authority has been to resolve the problems which arose this summer with national awards taken in schools and colleges. This has inevitably led to some delay in the processing of certificates for Higher National and National Certificate Group Awards and units. It is anticipated that the normal monthly cycle of certification for these awards will be in operation by the end of October.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 22 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority has taken steps to arrange the marking of the 2000-01 Advanced Higher exam papers.
Answer
The independent inquiry which I have commissioned will look at the recruitment of markers for all National Qualifications under Higher Still, SCE Higher, Certificate of Sixth Year Studies and Standard Grade exams, and will make recommendations about how this should operate in future.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 22 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school computer systems are compatible with Scottish Qualifications Authority computer systems to allow the exchange of data.
Answer
I understand that all school computer systems are capable, in principle, of achieving compatibility with the computer system operated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The independent inquiry which I have commissioned will look at the electronic exchange of data between SQA and centres, and will recommend any necessary changes to ensure that this operates effectively in future.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any grants relating to railway services available specifically for the provision of services for disabled persons at railway stations; who the grants have been made to; what effect would the granting of an exemption from or a delay in the required date for implementation of the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 have on the payment of any such grants, and whether it has any information on any such exemptions or delays and, if so, whether it will identify the organisation concerned.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has not made grants available for this purpose; however, the Executive has made a number of additional capital allocations to transport authorities through its Public Transport Fund, aimed at projects which incorporate improved access to rail services for disabled people. Powers concerning the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 are reserved to the Westminster Parliament.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the independent management consultant's report commissioned by the Scottish Tourist Board from PriceWaterhouseCoopers will be made public.
Answer
No. This is an internal review commissioned by and for the board of the STB.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any powers to require utilities and local authorities to co-operate in the undergrounding of overhead cable and wires for environmental reasons.
Answer
All new overhead lines require the consent of Scottish Ministers under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. In dealing with such applications, Ministers must have regard to environmental considerations, but the Scottish Executive has no powers to require the undergrounding of electricity cables. This is a matter for the public electricity suppliers.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or intends to make any funds available to local authorities or others to encourage the undergrounding of existing overhead cables and wires for environmental reasons.
Answer
We have no plans to do so.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 14 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7646 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000, when the Minister for Children and Education first became aware that there were difficulties with the marking of exam papers by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Answer
As I explained in my statement to Parliament on 6 September, I became aware in June that SQA were having difficulty recruiting sufficient exam markers in some subjects.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Donald Dewar on 14 September 2000
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Executive is taking to ensure that local authorities maintain the network of rural schools.
Answer
All our policies for schools are directed towards ensuring that all children in rural areas benefit from school provision of the highest quality.
