Questions and answers

Question reference: S4O-03044

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in reviewing the operation of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.

Question reference: S4W-19788

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the sub-group of the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning has made in the collection of data and measurement of outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs as set out in its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review).

Question reference: S4W-19786

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it has made with ensuring that the revised code of practice for additional support for learning is effective and will help practitioners deliver services locally.

The Scottish Government’s response to the Doran Review indicated that the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning would consider a review of the code of practice in relation to a number of recommendations of the review. The review of the code of practice will also take account of the provisions of the Children and Young People’s Bill.

The scope of the review has been agreed by the advisory group and a subgroup has been established to undertake the review. This work is currently at an early stage. It is intended that a revised code of practice will be published following a full public consultation and consideration by the Scottish Parliament as required by section 27 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004.

Question reference: S4W-19784

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it has made on meeting the immediate needs of children and young people with additional support needs and their families.

The Doran Review made a series of recommendations to support, over time, improved outcomes for children and young people with complex additional support needs. The Scottish Government is delivering against the recommendations through a range of work in partnership with key stakeholders, which will conclude in 2017.

Education authorities, through the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 have responsibilities to identify, address and review the additional support needs of their pupils, whenever they arise. The first report to Parliament on additional support for learning published in February 2012 indicated that the evidence from the Education Scotland Improving Scottish Education publications was that in most schools in Scotland the needs of most children and young people were being met well with some major strengths.

Question reference: S4W-19783

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it is making on ensuring that organisations that provide statutory services to children and young people publicise the values that underpin their policies.

The Scottish Government’s response to recommendation one of the Doran Review indicated that the code of practice would be reviewed in support of this recommendation.

The Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning would consider a review of the code of practice in relation to a number of recommendations of the review. The review of the code of practice will also take account of the provisions of the Children and Young People’s Bill.

The scope of the review has been agreed by the advisory group and a subgroup has been established to undertake the review. This work is currently at an early stage. It is intended that a revised code of practice will be published following a full public consultation and consideration by the Scottish Parliament as required by section 27 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004.

Question reference: S4W-19785

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with local authorities in their provision of resources under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004; what leadership it has provided; what direction it has given to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards to ensure that the transition to adult services for young people with complex additional support needs is delivered in accordance with the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review).

Funding for additional support in schools forms part of the block grant given to local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives. The methodology is agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA in consultation.

The Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning has considered the issue of post-school transition as indicated in the Scottish Government’s response to the Doran Review recommendation 11. The subgroup concluded that the legislation was appropriate and that the issue related to practice. The group considered a range of recommendations which have been remitted to the Scottish Government to take forward.

As also indicated in the response to the review the theme of the next report to Parliament, which is due to be published in March 2014, is transitions.

Question reference: S4W-19787

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on working with Enquire to develop an online map of information on specialist services that support children and young people with additional support needs and their families.

<>Enquire has been working towards the delivery of this recommendation and the map will be complete and on their website for parents and practitioners ahead of the timescale of the end of 2014. Additionally, as part of their young people’s site Enquire has an online map of accessible activity groups and supporters for children and young people across Scotland. This is accessed at: http://enquire.org.uk/yp/your-area.php.

Question reference: S4W-19625

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the possible impact on the viability of the Grangemouth petrochemical plant because of reported poor industrial relations.

Question reference: S4W-19623

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether INEOS has (a) sought or (b) been offered financial assistance in relation to the Grangemouth plant and, if so, (i) for what purpose and (ii) whether any conditions are attached.

Ineos applied for a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant in December 2008 and received £7.6 million in 2009. The grant was for the development and manufacture of chemicals and petroleum products, and the safeguarding of 551 jobs.

Ineos made an application for RSA in 2013 to support the delivery of investment plans, safeguard the future of the Grangemouth facility and safeguard jobs in addition to those covered by the 2009 grant. Scottish Enterprise are finalising the conditions relating to a possible grant.

To claim an instalment of grant under the terms of an RSA offer, a business has to complete a grant claim form to confirm that project investment, permanent job creation and safeguarding targets have been achieved in respect of the instalment being claimed.

Question reference: S4W-19622

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) INEOS representatives and (b) trades unions on the future of the Grangemouth plant since the end of the recent period of industrial action.

Chamber and committees