Chamber and committees

The Code of Practice on the Use of Temporary Contracts for Teachers, developed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, of which the Scottish Government is a member, states that employees on temporary contracts should not be treated any less favourably than those on permanent contracts. The Code takes into account the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Employment Relations Act 1999 and Employment Act 2002, as well as the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) and Fixed Term Workers Regulations (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) 2002.

In addition two of the recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group report published last year referred to post probationers and supply work. These are:

Recommendation 4: Local authority employers should wherever possible use post-probation teachers to fill supply vacancies

Recommendation 5: Local authorities should consider making more use of permanent supply pools to ensure stable employment opportunities are available to post-probation teachers.

The purpose of these recommendations is to help to develop more opportunities for those newly qualified by reducing the use of retired teachers in supply. The recommendations on supply are for local authorities as the employers of teachers to take forward while bearing in mind both employment and age legislation.

During the development of the Scottish science baccalaureate, my predecessor considered whether geography should be part of the baccalaureate and decided that it should not. However, geography can contribute to the Interdisciplinary Project and the SQA was asked to explore whether the baccalaureates should be extended to other subject areas. The focus of SQA''s work to date has rightly been on developing and supporting the implementation of the Scottish science and languages baccalaureates. With regard to the scoping of baccalaureates in other subject areas, SQA will begin work this month, with a view to having a proposal early summer and a potential start date of August 2011. This timescale will also allow for a review of the two existing baccalaureates before launch of a possible third. The geography sector will be involved as part of this process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32278 on 17 March 2010. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31810 on 11 March 2010. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31810 on 11 March 2010. 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.

Both ministers are aware. However, academic provision at the University of Strathclyde is a matter for the university, not Scottish ministers.

No.

This is a matter for the University of Edinburgh, not Scottish Ministers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31940 on 8 March 2010. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31925 on 3 March 2010. 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.