- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 4 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5527 by Peter Peacock on 5 April 2000, how it intends to implement the National Grid for Learning in Scotland without a clear definition of "computer" for educational purposes.
Answer
The National Grid for Learning will integrate modern information and communications technologies into the process of teaching and learning. The range of devices capable of delivering appropriate services is increasing all the time.
A very precise definition of a computer would quickly be overtaken by developments in technology, and would risk limiting the flexibility of schools to select the devices most appropriate for particular purposes within the school. A more general definition would serve no useful purpose.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 4 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5532 by Peter Peacock on 5 April 2000, how it intends to measure its progress in implementing the National Grid for Learning in Scotland without centrally monitoring the presence of IT technical support in secondary schools.
Answer
It is for local authorities to determine the most effective way of providing technical support for ICT in their schools. This is being done in a variety of ways, not all of which will involve the permanent presence of technical staff in any individual school.
In order to minimise the burden of data collection on schools and local authorities, the Scottish Executive tracks the progress of the National Grid for Learning by collecting information about a small number of key indicators, closely related to published targets, through the School Census and the Annual Survey of ICT.
The important work of measuring the effectiveness of the National Grid for Learning is carried on through a range of research projects and HMI tasks. A baseline report on teachers ICT skills and knowledge needs was published in 1998, and one on pupils is in preparation. It is planned that both pieces of research will be repeated towards the end of the current programme. Other research under way includes an investigation of the different models of ICT support emerging across Scotland.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 2 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any steps to promote consumer confidence in e-commerce.
Answer
The Electronic Communications Bill provides for a voluntary scheme of approval for service providers to enable both parties to a transaction to be confident of the identity of the other and the security of the transaction. Officials are working with the Alliance for Electronic Business on the "T scheme", which would be self-regulating. However, the Bill includes provisions for a Government-regulated scheme, if self-regulation fails.
Many consumer concerns can be met by the development of e-commerce codes which comply with core principles. TrustUK will approve codes of conduct for e-commerce which meet the core principles and offer consumers good protection. Online businesses which subscribe to TrustUK approved codes will display an "e-hallmark" indicating that consumers can shop with confidence. TrustUK is expected to be launched in June.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 2 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered launching online policy forums similar to those found at http://www.number-10.gov.uk.
Answer
The Scottish Executive website currently hosts three moderated online policy forums on the following topics: Land Reform, Improving Our Schools and Review of Services for People with a Learning Disability.
These forums can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/views/forums.asp.All Scottish Executive consultations are published on the website. We will continue to work to improve and update the Scottish Executive website, including making it easier for people to respond to consultations and getting their views across.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will now have into Her Majesty's Government's project to upgrade the A74 Gretna to Carlisle to motorway standard.
Answer
The Scottish Executive Development Department was a member of the steering group that produced the revised proposals for the A74 between Carlisle and Guardsmill announced by Lord Macdonald on 24 March.
Future consultation arrangements between the Highways Agency, who will have responsibility for delivering the project, and the Scottish Executive Development Department will be finalised during the summer.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when work will begin on the agreed improvements to the junction of the A73 and A702.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no current plans to improve the junction of the A73 and A702.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1471 by Peter Peacock on 30 March 2000, what targets, including timescales, it has for the allocation of e-mail addresses to primary and secondary schools.
Answer
Through the Programme for Government, the Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring an e-mail address for every school child by 2002. We have not set any targets for schools to have their own e-mail addresses.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 25 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with Her Majesty's Government or member states of the EU about the introduction of a Europe-wide qualification in IT and computing and, if so, what has been the outcome.
Answer
The proposed introduction of a Europe-wide qualification in basic IT skills was discussed at the Special European Council meeting in Lisbon on 23-24 March. The proposal is at an early stage but Scottish Executive officials have held preliminary discussions with colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment, and there will be close liaison on future developments.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5415 by Ross Finnie, to provide details of the successful Countryside Premium applications in Dumfries and Galloway in 1999.
Answer
Details of the successful Countryside Premium Scheme applications in Dumfries and Galloway in 1999 are as follows:
Applicant | Farm |
Physgill Farms | Glasserton Mains |
A Forsyth & Co | Mid Bishopton |
R & E Vance Ltd | Broughton Skeog |
J & A J McKeown | North Park |
James Swan, trading as W C P Swan | Dalkest |
A & B McFarlane | Low Salchrie |
Charles H Kennerley | Clachan |
Slockmill and Inshanks Farms | Inshanks |
Messrs J S Fleming | Castle Sinniness |
Messrs I H Fisher | Crailoch |
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 25 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on developing a strategic approach for the provision of tuition in IT skills to students and, if so, what has been the outcome.
Answer
There has been no such discussion between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
Ministers are precluded from directing SHEFC in its allocation of funding to institutions for specific courses.
However, in my recent letter of guidance to SHEFC, I encouraged the council to develop a clear strategic framework within which it can help the development and delivery of a knowledge economy. Specifically, I encouraged the council to develop IT in teaching and learning.
