Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of schools that are twinned with or have electronic links with schools in China. However, 12 of the 13 Confucius Classroom Hubs, covering 17 local authorities, are each twinned with schools in Tianjin in China. Details of these links are available at:

http://www.strath.ac.uk/ciss/confuciusclassroomhubsinscotland/

The remaining Confucius Classroom Hub is linked with a school in Chongqing.

The Scottish Government is keen to encourage schools here to develop links with schools in China. The Confucius Institute for Scotland Schools, which is supported by the Scottish Government, provides advice and guidance for any school wishing to develop links with schools in China. Evidence of schools’ increasing interest in China is provided by the increasing numbers of young people taking and passing National Qualifications in Mandarin, a trend we expect to continue as Chinese language learning becomes embedded within Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government is committed to developing a long-term relationship with China, based on shared values, partnership and trust. This is articulated in Working with China: A Five Year Strategy for Engagement between Scotland and the People’s Republic of China, published in December 2012.

On trade, Scottish Development International (SDI) actively works to cultivate business relationships and provides assistance directly in China through its offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai and across Scotland via SDI trade advisers and trade missions. In the last year we have seen SDI increase staff in China by nearly 30% (from 7 to 9) to provide on the ground support to more Scottish companies looking to export and explore opportunities in China.

On higher education, the Scottish Government encourages participation in initiatives which target the mobility and internationalisation of students, staff and researchers with China at all levels. This includes contributing funding to a number of inward and outward scholarship schemes such as Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships, Study China, Saltire Scholarships for Outward Mobility Fund and the Hong Kong–Scotland Partners in Post-Doctoral Research Initiative.

The Scottish Government has also taken a number of steps over the past four years to encourage people to learn Mandarin and Cantonese as well as learning about Chinese culture and history. This includes the launch of 13 Confucius Classrooms serving 17 local authorities across the country; the launch of new national qualifications in Chinese languages at Higher and Advanced Higher and funding for young people and accompanying teachers to undertake highly successful study visits and language immersion courses in China.

With regard to culture, the First Minister signed a four year Cultural Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Scotland and China on 5 December 2011 in Beijing with China’s Minister of Culture, Mr Cai Wu. The MOU covers four key areas: cultural collaboration; best practice and talent development; educational outreach and, networking opportunities. Since the signing of the MOU, there has been a significant increase in new cultural collaboration, deepening of existing relationships and increased exchanges between both nations.

On the issue of direct flights, the Scottish Government believes there is considerable potential for improving Scotland’s international air connections and the development of a direct air route between Scotland and China continues to be a key focus of our engagement with the Chinese Government and Chinese airlines. This is because securing a direct air route from China to Scotland will increase the attractiveness of Scotland for not only tourism but will lead to greater trade and investment to (and from) China. There is a demonstrated market demand with the Scottish Governments analysis of the route potential showing a mid-point forecast of some 58,000 passengers per annum.

Visa policy and its enforcement is currently a matter reserved to the UK Government and dealt with by the Home Office. The Scottish Government welcomes visitors from China and the rest of the world, whether for business or tourism purposes and we need an immigration system which supports sustainable economic growth. Cost and processing time for visas can be a barrier to visitors; however, the UK/ China Approved Destination Status agreement recognises the value of visitors and seeks to make it easier for organised tours to visit the UK.

The Scottish Government has taken a number of steps over the past 4 years to encourage people to learn Mandarin and Cantonese as well as about Chinese culture and history. This includes the launch of 13 Confucius Classrooms serving 17 local authorities across the country; the launch of new national qualifications in Chinese languages at Higher and Advanced Higher; the funding for Headteachers to visit China and build up links; support for teachers from Tianjin schools linked with Scottish schools to live in Scotland and work in their partner schools, and funding for young people and accompanying teachers to undertake highly successful study visits and language immersion courses in China.

The projections are based on past trends and do not explicitly model the potential impact of future changes in policy or practice on the prison population. While there was a small dip in the population between 2009-10 and 2010-11, the overall trend over the past 20 years has been upward and this is reflected in the most recent projections. The main drivers of the trend are described in paragraphs 28-36 of the Prison Statistics and Population Projections Scotland: 2011-12 which can be accessed online at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubPrisons.

While the estimate of 8,300 for 2012-13 is for the main variant projection, the likely range of the projection is between 7,600 and 8,900. The methodology used for the projections is explained in section 4 of the publication.

Details of our proposals on independence will be in the white paper to be published later this year. However we have already stated that an independent Scotland would negotiate to remain within the common travel area, maintaining an open border between Scotland and the rest of the UK. Visitors from the rest of the UK would not therefore require a visa to visit Scotland.

The Scottish Government has a programme of measures in place to reduce reoffending, including our recently announced £10 million scheme to provide more offenders leaving prison with a mentor to support their release and reintegration. I am confident that these measures will be successful in further reducing the reconviction rate from its lowest level in 13 years, and to reduce the demands on prison places.

As part of prudent planning, the Scottish Government regularly discusses the Scottish Prison Service’s (SPS) plans for coping with the projected higher numbers, and I commend the flexibility and professionalism of SPS staff in operating normally in overcrowded conditions.

There is no statutory right to appeal a decision of the Parole Board. However, in common with other public bodies, the lawfulness of a Parole Board decision may be challenged by way of a judicial review by a party with sufficient title and interest to do so.

A key way of delivering safe, effective and person centred services is through the implementation of clinical standards. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 73 on the Management of Sleep Apnoea/Hypopnoea in Adults, provides clinicians in NHSScotland with evidence based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea.

The National Advisory Group (NAG) for Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) is working with the Sleep Studies Working Group to identify issues in sleep services and potential solutions. As a result of this work a request has been submitted to Healthcare Improvement Scotland to seek an update of the current SIGN Guideline 73.

The working group is also in the process of piloting sleep studies referral guidance for GPs within five NHS Boards. GPs are being encouraged to complete the referral guidance which provides secondary care clinicians with valuable information prior to an individual’s out-patient review.

In addition, the Scottish Government has recently provided funding to the NAG to support the development and dissemination of “Sleep Disordered Breathing Guidance for Primary Care”.

All of this work will help to ensure that patients with sleep disorders including sleep apnoea are identified, assessed, diagnosed and appropriately referred for treatment and long-term management.