Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-18101

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 13 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons an emergency timetable extending journey times for railway services on the Far North and Kyle line was introduced on 28 October 2013.

A modified timetable has been introduced for services between Inverness and Thurso/Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh to improve the punctuality and reliability of the timetable and ensure connection times are met with other public transport services.

Not all services on these routes have been adversely affected with the introduction of this new timetable. Of those services that have been affected, journey times have been extended by a maximum of two minutes.

Network Rail and First ScotRail are working closely together to produce an improved and more resilient timetable for Far North and Kyle services, which is expected to be introduced for the May 2014 timetable change.

Question reference: S4O-02578

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the President of Turkey's recent visit to Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-17554

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it would give prospective parents of a pupil in Gaelic-medium education as to the length of time their child should be immersed in Gaelic.

Question reference: S4W-17553

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it started production of, and what plans it has to publish, statutory guidance on Gaelic education.

Question reference: S4W-17549

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure the visibility of Gaelic at major events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Year of Homecoming and the Ryder Cup.

Question reference: S4W-17555

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to outline the differences between Gaelic-medium education and Gaelic learners’ education and the outcomes that could be expected from each.

The differences between Gaelic medium education and Gaelic learners’ education have been briefly dealt with in legislation of the Scottish Parliament. For Gaelic medium pupils we hope to ensure that young people are both equally confident in the use of both Gaelic and English; and are able to use Gaelic and English in a full range of contexts within and outwith school. The outcomes for Gaelic Learners Education are described in the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence and then in the criteria for national qualifications in the senior phase. It is our intention that this will receive further attention in the National Guidance that is being prepared.

Question reference: S4W-17560

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring forward legislation offering a statutory entitlement to Gaelic education.

Question reference: S4W-17556

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have cited lack of teachers as a reason for denying access to Gaelic-medium education.

We have received no formal approaches from any local authority citing lack of teachers as a reason for denying access to Gaelic Medium Education. However, we are aware of the difficulties in the recruitment and retention of teachers in the Gaelic medium sector and for this reason we have been working closely with Bòrd na Gaidhlig, teacher education institutions, local authorities and the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that Gaelic teaching is promoted and information on the routes in to teacher training are clear and those entering the system are supported while given CPD opportunities.

Question reference: S4W-17550

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what role single outcome agreements play in the delivery of the National Gaelic Language Plan 2012-17.

Question reference: S4W-17559

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that a course, similar to Ceumannan, is made available to students fluent in the Gaelic language.

Ceumannan is an excellent course for Gaelic learner education at secondary level. A multi-year project is on the current Stòrlann Niseanta na Gidhlig publishing programme. The aim is to produce a suite of graded materials comprising of new and existing material. A comprehensive language framework will be a key feature of the new resource. The rationale for such a framework was the focus of practitioner workshops at An t-Alltan in Aviemore.

The language framework articulates with CfE and existing grammar resources such as Mìrean. Materials and resources will be linked to the framework at the various levels. Stòrlann will develop the resource in close collaboration with the teaching profession, Education Scotland, SQA, and local authority advisors.

The materials will be made available to schools and students fluent in the Gaelic language as they are developed and produced. More information can be found at:

http://www.storlann.co.uk/ceumannan/.