Chamber and committees

The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme publishes predicted speeds that premises have access to on the Digital Scotland postcode checker. These speeds are calculated based on the infrastructure in place, namely the distance between the cabinet and the individual premises served, and the rate at which speeds decrease on copper lines over distance. The actual speeds that premises receive will vary due to a number of factors ranging from technology constraints, the nature of the service being delivered by the internet service provider, and the equipment being used by customers to access the network.

The Scottish Attainment Challenge provides both targeted support through the Attainment Scotland Fund and universal support available right across Scotland. Up to 133 secondary schools are being supported by Scottish Attainment Challenge funding following the recent expansion of this programme, while a further 43 have received funding to support innovative projects through the Attainment Challenge Innovation Fund.

From financial year 2017-18 the additional £100 million per annum that will be raised each year from our Council Tax reforms will be allocated directly to schools. It is likely that the vast majority of publicly funded schools will receive funding.

Teacher vacancy statistics have not been published since 2010 following results of a user consultation on proposals to cease a number of education data collections in order to minimise the response burden on schools and local authorities.

Curriculum for Excellence provides significant flexibility, within broad national guidelines, for teachers to develop lessons which best meet the needs of individual learners. This is a key characterisation of Scotland's education system. Relationships, sexual health and parenthood education remains an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the curriculum in Scotland. The Scottish Government published statutory guidance, Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education in Schools, in December 2014 which applies to all local authorities in relation to education about sexual matters provided in the schools they manage.

There was no commercial rollout out of fibre broadband planned for Shetland prior to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.

Commercial coverage across the Highlands and Islands would have been 21% had the Scottish Government not intervened. BT was the only infrastructure provider deploying commercially in the region at the time of the 2012 Open Market Review.

The Scottish Government does not consider that the original target of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme with BT was too low.

The approach taken across both contracts was to maximise fibre broadband coverage within the available budget. This delivered higher than anticipated coverage across the board, with 95% of premises having fibre access, compared to just 66% through commercial investment.

We have no plans to publish vacancy details.

As part of ongoing analysis of the annual outcome of Trainee recruitment and selection in Scotland, the Scottish Government discusses with NHS Education for Scotland(NES) whether different approaches may be required to make training posts more attractive, while being mindful of the need for every post to provide the educational experiences and opportunities that fulfil the educational standards required by the General Medical Council.

We are clear that more innovation and flexibility in our recruitment approaches for Trainees is needed, and to then retain them upon completion of training. A key challenge is to ensure that surgical teams in remote areas can maintain their skills when patient numbers are small, and this is being addressed by developing networks between rural and urban hospitals. In a highly competitive recruitment environment for medical trainees where multiple choices exist, the Scottish Government is clear that concerted efforts are needed by NES, Health boards and Medical Royal Colleges to make training posts as educationally attractive as possible, that offer the job flexibilities and enhanced skill opportunities Trainees now seek, and where appropriate offer local recruitment incentives to Trainees. In remote and rural circumstances, such incentives might include offering assistance towards accommodation costs, employment offers to partners, travel and subsistence to attend learning events.

There is widespread recognition of the need for transformational change to enhance the quality of care, improve outcomes and ensure we have a sustainable service for all. As implementation of the National Clinical Strategy progresses, it is inevitable that the restructuring of service provision at national, regional and local levels will drive new approaches to how surgical training is configured, and the new national and regional workforce planning system will need to ensure training placements adapt to such change.

The Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) approach has been national policy since 2010 and as part of their existing work, public authorities in many parts of Scotland already operate a “named person” approach.

Part 4 (Provision of Named Persons) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act) has not yet commenced.

As the Scottish Government works towards commencement of Part 4 of the Act, named person service providers, including local authorities, health boards, and partners, will continue to progress the GIRFEC approach and to develop and deliver named person services.

Under Part 4 of the Act, a Named Person has a responsibility to respond to a request for help or a concern about a child's or young person's wellbeing but there is no requirement on children, young people or parents to take up any offer of advice or support. The rights and responsibilities of parents to raise their children and provide for their wellbeing needs remain the same. Named Persons have no new legal powers to compel parents, children or young people to accept advice, support or help.

The provisions of Part 4 of the Act do not change current child protection procedures and the police and/or social work should continue to be contacted immediately if a child is believed to be at risk of significant harm.

This is a matter for the Crofting Commission. I have asked the interim Chief Executive to write to you about this matter.