Chamber and committees

The published remit for the OECD’s Independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence, sets out the approach taken to the review. This can be accessed at: Independent+Review+of+Curriculum+for+Excellence+-+Remit.pdf (www.gov.scot)

The OECD established a team of core OECD staff and international experts with experience in curriculum and assessment implementation. The process included:

• A comprehensive desk-based analysis of policy documents, evidence and research on CfE implementation, which included, amongst other documents, the initial evidence base provided by the Scottish Government in July 2020, papers published as part of the Education & Skills Committee’s Inquiry on Subject Choice and published academic articles and research.
• Compilation of information from key stakeholders’ websites and think tank publications.
• A series of interviews and virtual school visits plus focus groups to gather primary data. These included discussions with the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, Scottish Government officials, national agencies, local government representatives, college and university bodies, employer groups, academics, teachers and head teachers, parents, young people, Gaelic and subject specific interest groups, and members of Scotland’s education governance groups.

This represented a significant and comprehensive amount of documentation, with many different perspectives informing the review.

The OECD were clear that it was not feasible for them to consider more information than they specifically requested, nor was the purpose of the Review to generate new written submissions or replace what would otherwise be a national consultation.

The OECD were made aware of any requests to submit written submissions and advised that should any additional information be required they would request this.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with COSLA, including on Covid recovery, and the well-established mechanisms in place provide an opportunity for future discussions on this matter should COSLA seek to raise this with the Scottish Government.

Widening access to medicine for disadvantaged students remains a primary focus of the Scottish Government. As of academic year 2021-22, there are 60 places shared among Scotland's 5 medical schools which are reserved for students who meet the criteria for widening access, and we have committed to doubling that number over the lifetime of this Parliament. There are also SG funded pre-medical entry courses running at the universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow which aim to prepare aspiring medical students by helping them to get the academic qualifications required for entry into undergraduate medicine.

All medical students who are studying medicine full-time as a first degree are entitled to the standard undergraduate student support package for the full duration of their studies. This means the teaching costs are paid by the Scottish Government to the Universities (via the Scottish Funding Council) and their tuition fees are paid by the Scottish Government through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). They can also apply to SAAS for various loans and bursaries to help with living costs, depending on their individual circumstances.

I regularly meet with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) to discuss a range of issues. The most recent liaison meeting took place on 16 September 2020 via MS Teams and the next meeting is scheduled to take place on 15 September 2021.

At the meeting in September 2020 I expressed my thanks for the continuing work and flexible approach taken by firefighters during the Covid pandemic period and underlined the importance the Scottish Government places on Fair Work principles. Matters discussed included communication between FBU officials and SFRS mangers, paid union facility time, firefighter pay, broadening the role of firefighters and Scottish Government funding to SFRS.

This information is not held centrally. However, it should be noted that the Scottish Government remains committed to the ongoing delivery of widening access and participation (and this includes Medicine).

Guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on short-term loan was published five months ago, on 23 March 2021 ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-provision-wheelchairs-short-term-loan/ ).

Officials are meeting with the Red Cross in September to discuss options for an evaluation, and how the Red Cross can support the Scottish Government and health and social care partnerships. Before any evaluation commences health and social care partnerships, along with their store services, require sufficient time to put measures in place to ensure the guidance is fully implemented, a part of this work will be to develop processes to monitor and evaluate service provision.

The Scottish Government has also launched a review of the wider guidance on the provision of equipment and adaptations, which was originally published in 2008 ( https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/CC2009_05.pdf ). The review is now moving to the consultation phase, with online events planned for 25 August and
‎ 1 September 2021 and an online consultation due to launch in September.

To accompany the guidance a range of self-assessment tools are also being developed which, following publication of the revised guidance, officials will consider how these could be used to support an evaluation.

The Scottish Government is committed to review the role that incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, and are considering options to take forward this review. Parliament will be updated on plans for this in September, when we will outline the scope, timeline and processes for conducting the review.

The review will consider all options within the agreed scope and we will carefully consider all recommendations arising from the review.

The Scottish Government is committed to review the role that incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, and are considering options to take forward this review. Parliament will be updated on plans for this in September, when we will outline the scope, timeline and processes for conducting the review.

The review will consider all options within the agreed scope and we will carefully consider all recommendations arising from the review.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02164 on
‎ 31 August 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Since 9 August, Scotland has moved beyond Level 0 restrictions and therefore beyond the Protection Levels system. This means that all venues are now allowed to open and most legal restrictions have been removed.

The Scottish Government has published summary guidance to support the reopening of cultural performances events, setting out in one place the remaining legal requirements and good practice precautionary measures most relevant to the sector, as well as a statement about long-term recovery.

The guidance is available here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): reopening of cultural performances and events guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Scottish economy faces unprecedented challenges as it recovers from the pandemic and transitions to becoming a net zero economy. To guide the economy through this period, the Scottish Government has committed to delivering a new 10 year National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

The Advisory Council for Economic Transformation was established to help shape and drive the strategy. The Advisory Council’s work will be complemented by an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement, including environmental stakeholders, and the views put forward by the public through the consultation. This is a national endeavour and so the Scottish Government wants to hear directly from business, workers and stakeholders right across the country on how to transform the economy and help us reach net zero.