Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-23065

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on remote and rural communities of the transfer of delivery of national training programmes from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to Skills Development Scotland.

Government supported training programme data indicates an increase in the number of starts in Highlands and Islands local authority areas (Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands) from 2007-08, the year before Skills Development Scotland was formed, to the present day.

The starts – which include Modern Apprentices, Get Ready for Work, Training for Work and the Employability Fund – totalled 1,760 in 2007-08 (before the formation of Skills Development Scotland) compared to 3,069 in 2013-14.

2007-08 figures are based on Highlands and Islands Enterprise data prior to the creation of Skills Development Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-23070

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reintroducing funding arrangements such as those that applied under Highlands and Islands Enterprise's delivery of national training programmes, to reflect the costs of delivering training in remote and rural communities.

The Employability Fund, which replaced the previous national training programmes, has only been in operation since 2013-14.

The development of the Employability Fund identified the opportunity to achieve increased progressions for participants towards and into employment though better alignment of funded provision at a national and regional level. The aim of the fund is to improve learner progressions along the skills and employability pipeline by funding provision which:

Is responsive to differing client needs, employer demand and other funded training at regional level;

Enables learners to demonstrate their achievements to employers; and

Applies funding levels which better reflect learner, rather than learning provider, requirements.

A formative evaluation of the Employability Fund is underway which is expected to report later in the year. This will look at how the fund is being delivered and will include feedback from training providers from across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-23068

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing additional funds to encourage the development and delivery of work-based training in remote and rural communities.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has recently published a Highlands and Islands Skills Investment Plan, developed in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands and local authorities.

SDS will work in partnership with those bodies in delivering the actions set out in this plan including increasing the uptake of Modern Apprenticeships, establishing industry-led skills provision and meeting the immediate needs of employers in key economic sectors across the region.

In addition, we are using the findings from the report on developing Scotland’s young workforce to transform the way we work with young people, employers, schools and colleges to ensure that all our young women and men have the choices and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

We have committed £12 million for early implementation in the year 2014-15 and £16.6 million for 2015-16. £5 million has already been allocated this year for early action including:

£1 million to support the establishment of new regional employer partnerships

£3 million for a skills package including: piloting foundation apprenticeships, allowing young people to start training while still at school; piloting advanced apprenticeships in key skills sectors; developing Scotland’s careers advisory service; addressing gender segregation and assisting young disabled people and minority groups in relation to training and employment programmes

£0.5 million to enable Education Scotland to be more focused on supporting young people towards work

£0.5 million as part of a new £1 million government fund for establishing the Investors in Young People accolade for business (announced 2008/07)

Further details on action we will be taking to develop the young workforce across all of Scotland will be set out later in the year.

Question reference: S4W-23073

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to discuss with Skills Development Scotland the implications for unemployed adults of courses previously offered at stage 4 of the Employability Fund no longer being considered financially viable to deliver in remote and rural areas.

Question reference: S4W-23072

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of concerns regarding a review by Skills Development Scotland that could result in a further reduction of the contribution rate for modern apprenticeships in the hospitality sector and the impact that this could have on recruitment and retention in remote and rural communities.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) undertook a review of Modern Apprenticeship contribution rates in 2013 which resulted in initial changes to the contribution offered for those starting on a small number of frameworks, including hospitality, in 2014-15.

SDS will shortly publish revised contribution rates with stakeholders invited to comment. This includes a specific question on how SDS could better address rural issues.

Question reference: S4W-23067

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on remote and rural communities of the Employability Fund paying a flat rate to training providers regardless of where the training is delivered.

The development of the Employability Fund identified the opportunity to achieve increased progressions for participants towards and into employment though better alignment of funded provision at a national and regional level. The aim of the fund is to improve learner progressions along the skills and employability pipeline by funding provision which:

Is responsive to differing client needs, employer demand and other funded training at regional level;

Enables learners to demonstrate their achievements to employers; and

Applies funding levels which better reflect learner, rather than learning provider, requirements.

A formative evaluation of the Employability Fund is underway which is expected to report later in the year. This will include feedback from providers across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-23069

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to assess the impact on remote and rural communities of the modern apprenticeship and Employability Fund programmes.

A formative evaluation of the Employability Fund is underway which is expected to report later in the year. This will look at how the fund is being delivered across different areas of Scotland.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has recently published the Highlands and Islands Skills Investment Plan, developed in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands and local authorities

SDS will work in partnership with those bodies in delivering the actions set out in this plan including increasing the uptake of Modern Apprenticeships, establishing industry-led skills provision and meeting the immediate needs of employers in key economic sectors across the region.

Action against this plan will be reviewed in due course to ensure it is continuing to meet the needs of the local economy.

Question reference: S4W-23071

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage Skills Development Scotland to assess the impact on remote and rural communities of any review of contribution rates for modern apprenticeships.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) undertook a review of Modern Apprenticeship contribution rates in 2013 which resulted in initial changes to the contribution offered for those starting on a small number of frameworks in 2014-15. The review was supported by the external advisory group which included membership from learning providers, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, COSLA, Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Government.

SDS will shortly publish revised contribution rates with stakeholders invited to comment. This includes a specific question on how SDS could better address rural issues.

Question reference: S4W-22861

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) greenfield and (b) agricultural land that it owns has been used for (i) building and (ii) other developments in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S4W-23132

Current Status: Withdrawn

Chamber and committees