Chamber and committees

Scotland Performs provides a dynamic means of tracking progress towards the Government’s highest priorities set out in its National Performance Framework. It is updated as and when new data becomes available.

The monitoring of data goes wider than Scotland Performs, which shows the national picture. Monitoring is carried out at various levels across the government and wider public sector through respective performance management regimes.

Scotland Performs is an integral part of the Scottish Government’s analytical service and is resourced from within that function.

Analysis of progress, based on transparent methodology, has remained the same since the launch of Scotland Performs in June 2008. Information on the methodology used for assessing and reporting progress on Scotland Performs is available on the website’s General Methodology Notes page at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicators/methodology.

Scotland Performs allows the public to judge for themselves how Scotland is progressing through its ‘Performance at a glance’ page on the website. The direction of travel ‘arrows’ help influence policy decisions with a view to driving improvement based upon the evidence provided.

The ‘Performance at a glance’ page can be viewed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/performance.

Scotland Performs disseminates information as soon as close to real time as possible. In addition, a calendar of updates is available on the website to inform users on the timing of forthcoming updates, the calendar is available to view at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/Calendar.

The issue of trade union recognition did come up during discussions with Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski about his appointment as Chair of the Review of Higher Education Governance. However, as is the case with other universities, Robert Gordon University is an autonomous institution with responsibility for setting its own arrangements for employee relations. I understand Professor Von Prondzynski is meeting with UCU to discuss the matter.

We will develop the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill through a wide ranging dialogue with communities from across rural and urban Scotland and with the public, private and voluntary sectors. We will publish initial policy proposals relating to the Bill later in the year.

The numbers of teachers graduating from courses of initial teacher education in each of the years referred to are shown in the table.

All who are eligible to join the teacher induction scheme may apply for a place, and are guaranteed to be offered a one year teaching contract. Each year approximately 90% of those who apply take up the post they are offered.

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Figures in this table have been rounded to the nearest 5.

The Review was established by the Scottish Ministers who are responsible for the composition of the panel. A Call for Evidence was announced on 29 June 2011 and views are now being sought from consultees for a period of 12 weeks to 21 September 2011.

The Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group last met on 22 June 2011. The Scottish Government co-ordinates and services this group.

The Scottish Government is firmly committed to reducing teacher unemployment and to balancing teacher supply and demand. Our strategy has been to reduce the number of teachers being trained while, at the same time, to secure a commitment from local authorities to protect teacher jobs. This commitment means that local authorities will offer sufficient teaching posts for all new probationers in 2011-12, for all finishing probationers to apply for and to further reduce teacher unemployment.

The recent run of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant figures indicates that we are making good progress with this.

Developed in partnership with the Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group, the Scottish Government published a national approach to anti-bullying for Scotland’s children and young people in November 2010. The guidance is aimed at local authorities, schools and all organisations working with children and young people in Scotland.