- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how training for the additional 2,800 teachers needed to meet its target of 53,000 teachers by 2007 will be funded.
Answer
Funding for any additional teachers required by the Partnership Agreement will be delivered through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the legislative framework is for health and safety issues on school trips.
Answer
Those responsible for schools must consider their common law obligations as well as any statutory duties in respect of the health and safety of staff and pupils on school trips. There are general legislative provisions for health and safety in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, but there may be other specific provisions applicable depending on the nature of the trip, activities being undertaken, accommodation or transport being used.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants to the Teacher Induction Scheme have not taken up the place offered to them.
Answer
One thousand, nine hundred and ninety-five students were offered places on the Teacher Induction Scheme at the beginning of June. As at 7 July, 75 have indicated that they will not take up the places they have been offered.The table indicates the reasons why people will not be taking up their places.
| Reason for Not Taking Up Place | Number of Students |
| Withdrawn from or not completed course | 34 |
| Deferral till 2004 scheme | 5 |
| Going outwith Scotland | 9 |
| Joining independent sector | 7 |
| Personal/family reasons | 7 |
| Other/not specified | 13 |
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to schools to ensure the safety of pupils on school trips.
Answer
Local authorities and other managers of schools are responsible for taking reasonable care of pupils in their charge, and it is for them to consider what support it is necessary to give to schools in that context.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will allocate to youth cafis.
Answer
Funding for Youth CAFEs (Community Alcohol Free Environments) is provided within resources allocated to local authorities and NHS boards but is not identified specifically by the Executive. The plans of Alcohol Action Teams will allow us to assess the current provision and future plans for such facilities.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Euan Robson on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it will introduce to improve procedures, services and support for adoptive and foster parents, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is currently working with partners in local authorities and the voluntary sector to take forward policies to improve procedures, services and support for adoptive and foster parents.The report of the first phase of our adoption policy review was published last year and made a number of recommendations to improve support to adoptive parents, in particular the establishment of an Adoption Support Network for Scotland. Following consultation on these recommendations, the Executive is considering how best to take forward these recommendations. The second phase of the adoption review, which was launched in March, will consider the legal framework for adoption and fostering, including the support for adoptive parents.The Executive has invited the Fostering Network to develop their proposals for improving support for foster carers and I will be meeting with them in the near future to discuss this work.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when the discussions with education authorities, higher education institutions and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on the expansion of teacher training places will take place, as referred to in its news release SEED244/2003 of 25 June 2003.
Answer
Officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to keep them advised of future requirements for teachers and further discussions with all relevant interests will take place in the course of the summer and autumn.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Euan Robson on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what form annual progress plans, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland, will take and how such plans will differ from annual reports.
Answer
Work is under way to improve reporting to parents as part of the Assessment Development Programme. The form of annual progress plans is currently under consideration and will draw on a series of consultations with groups of parents planned for autumn 2003. Annual progress plans will be closely linked to Personal Learning Plans to provide parents with a broader range of quality information on their children's learning.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the training of additional teachers will have on the funding allocated to implement the McCrone settlement agreed with local authorities in March 2003.
Answer
We are committed to the full implementation of the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century. The training of any additional teachers arising from A Partnership for a Better Scotland will not affect the funding of that agreement.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities about health and safety issues on school trips.
Answer
Such guidance was issued by the Scottish Office in the form of a circular. This guidance is currently being reviewed by the Scottish Executive.
