- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 1 October 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what shortage of fostering households exists, broken down by local authority.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
It is for local authorities to consider whether there are sufficient foster carers in their area.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has approved the curriculum proposals for the City of Glasgow College and, if so, whether these have implications for other colleges.
Answer
It is not a requirement that ministers approve the curriculum delivered by individual colleges. The activity for which colleges may be funded is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member to outline its proposals to fund the City of Glasgow College and any implications of these for other colleges.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, given an absence of citation of the evidence underpinning it, whether it is satisfied that the Scottish Funding Council’s consultation process on the Glasgow college merger was sufficiently transparent.
Answer
I understand that the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) consulted on the future curriculum which might be delivered by Glasgow colleges. However, it was the Scottish Government, and the colleges themselves, which consulted on the merger proposal. I am unaware of any separate consultation on the merger undertaken by the SFC.
In general, ministers would expect all public bodies to consult on significant propositions, and to apply their judgment on the organisations and individuals which might be involved.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what educational rationale supporting the proposed merger of the three central Glasgow colleges underpinned its advice to ministers to approve the merger.
Answer
Ministers have now published the main evidence on which the decision to approve the merger was based. That evidence includes the educational rationale for the merger cited jointly by the three merging colleges, and the advice provided to ministers by the Scottish Funding Council which also highlighted the benefits of merger. The relevant documents can be viewed on the Scottish Government''s website at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/UniversitiesColleges/17135/glasgowmerger.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new review of data protection protocols will include an assessment of existing databases and IT system procedures with a view to addressing existing flaws and areas of non-compliance.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to be absolutely committed to compliance with the Data Protection Act of 1998 and this is reflected in the protocols and procedures we have put in place to ensure consistent and robust standards for the processing, security and integrity of data.
We have an ongoing programme of system reviews and audits which should serve to ensure that databases and IT system procedures are compliant across core Scottish Government and its agencies. Our work on implementing information asset registers has also contributed to this task by recording details about the data held and information about the systems and databases in which it resides. Finally, we have ensured that each business area has an identified information asset owner responsible for ensuring that the content of databases and systems is compliant with regulations and that the appropriate standards are being applied to the handling and care of data.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Scottish Funding Council is in overseeing the implementation of the City of Glasgow College merger and when the first progress report on the college’s development will be made.
Answer
In line with good practice, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) reviews the progress of all mergers. With specific regard to City of Glasgow College, Ministers have asked the SFC to work with the college to develop the exceptional leadership and management which ministers believe the college will require.
Ministers have also asked the SFC to oversee the delivery of their expectations in relation to the avoidance of compulsory redundancies at the college; the establishment with the trade unions of mechanisms to identify and resolve conflicts; the delivery of the financial benefits of the merger; the production of a revised business case for the redevelopment of the college estate; and future partnerships and rationalisation involving other colleges.
Ministers will expect to be regularly apprised by the SFC of progress on these issues, reflecting the close interest of ministers in the development of the new college.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any engagement has taken place between the proposed City of Glasgow College and trade unions with a view to agreeing the harmonisation of pay and conditions and, if so, what outcomes have emerged.
Answer
Negotiations on pay and conditions are a matter for individual colleges and their recognised trade unions. In giving approval to the merger, Ministers indicated their strong expectation that the City of Glasgow College will engage genuinely and productively with the trade unions with a view to resolving outstanding issues on harmonisation.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it foresees for Stow College within the wider college sector in Glasgow.
Answer
Stow College has made a significant contribution over many decades to the delivery of vocational education and training within Glasgow. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has indicated that it wishes to ensure the continued viability of Stow College. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member on this matter.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the place of engineering and science specialities in the new City of Glasgow College.
Answer
The responsibility to fund a coherent system of high quality college education lies with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), rather than with Ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member to outline its approach to the future funding of colleges in Glasgow, including the new City of Glasgow College.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Funding Council is sufficiently independent of the merger decision process to enable it to report satisfactorily to the Parliament and ministers on the development and implementation of the new City of Glasgow College plan.
Answer
The role of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is set out in statute. It includes the provision of advice to ministers, and the duty to secure the coherent provision of further and higher education. Ministers do not consider that the provision of advice on the merger proposal conflicts in any way with the SFC''s involvement in the implementation of the merger, or on the manner in which the SFC reports on progress.
Ministers will expect to be regularly apprised by the SFC on progress, reflecting the close interest of ministers in the development of the new college.
