- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 7 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre all documents including letters, memoranda, reports and assessments relating directly or indirectly to the communications between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Qualifications Authority concerning this year's Scottish Examinations.
Answer
I would expect to make this information available to the Education Committee; it has decided to conduct an investigation into this year's exam results.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 7 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) (a) commenced and (b) completed the issue of instructions to individuals to act as markers for this year's exams and whether there was a delay in this work by the SQA and, if so, of what duration.
Answer
This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the weighted student unit of measurement (SUMS) delivered per member of teaching staff is in each further education college for each year since incorporation.
Answer
The information requested is given in the following table, subject to the fact that the numbers of part-time teaching staff have been converted, for comparative purposes, to Full-Time Equivalents.
Scottish Further Education Colleges (Incorporated) - Weighted Student Units of Measurement (SUMs)
FTE Teaching Staff
Name of Establishment | 1998-99 | 1997-98 | 1996-97 |
| Weighted SUMs | FTE Teaching | WS/ FTE | Weighted SUMs | FTE Teaching | WS/ FTE | Weighted SUMs | FTE Teaching | WS/ FTE |
Aberdeen College | 133,837 | 292.9 | 456.9 | 124,634 | 268.0 | 465.1 | 111,448 | 329.2 | 338.6 |
Angus College | 34,486 | 99.4 | 347.0 | 31,142 | 97.5 | 319.3 | 28,564 | 93.4 | 305.8 |
Anniesland College | 42,987 | 141.5 | 303.7 | 40,493 | 133.6 | 303.1 | 37,670 | 126.4 | 298.1 |
Ayr College | 48,073 | 165.4 | 290.6 | 45,249 | 140.8 | 321.4 | 39,424 | 175.3 | 224.9 |
Banff & Buchan College of Further Education | 32,943 | 102.1 | 322.8 | 31,404 | 95.2 | 329.8 | 28,358 | 96.8 | 293.0 |
The Barony College | 8,499 | 34.9 | 243.5 | 7,595 | 30.1 | 252.3 | 6,873 | 23.5 | 292.7 |
Bell College of Technology | 30,876 | 222.1 | 139.0 | 30,166 | 233.3 | 129.3 | 28,367 | 221.1 | 128.3 |
Borders College | 31,549 | 110.6 | 285.2 | 31,460 | 103.1 | 305.2 | 28,138 | 96.6 | 291.3 |
South Lanarkshire College* | 32,407 | 115.6 | 280.3 | 31,982 | 126.1 | 253.6 | 30,587 | 126.4 | 242.0 |
Cardonald College | 65,101 | 212.4 | 306.6 | 62,780 | 201.3 | 311.8 | 55,104 | 205.4 | 268.3 |
Central College of Commerce | 41,328 | 136.4 | 303.1 | 40,865 | 127.6 | 320.3 | 41,062 | 141.0 | 291.2 |
Clackmannan College of Further Education | 19,652 | 65.6 | 299.5 | 18,936 | 67.4 | 281.1 | 17,769 | 62.0 | 286.6 |
Clydebank College | 47,128 | 174.1 | 270.8 | 50,659 | 214.5 | 236.2 | 50,890 | 231.3 | 220.0 |
Coatbridge College | 31,405 | 108.5 | 289.4 | 30,420 | 116.5 | 261.2 | 29,064 | 116.0 | 250.6 |
Cumbernauld College | 23,409 | 79.1 | 295.9 | 25,621 | 84.3 | 303.7 | 22,384 | 85.4 | 262.2 |
Dumfries & Galloway College | 36,247 | 152.8 | 237.3 | 35,534 | 138.8 | 256.0 | 35,588 | 142.0 | 250.6 |
Dundee College | 87,788 | 242.2 | 362.5 | 83,539 | 288.0 | 290.1 | 80,564 | 277.0 | 290.8 |
Elmwood College | 24,268 | 71.8 | 338.1 | 26,688 | 78.6 | 339.5 | 21,522 | 98.2 | 219.2 |
Falkirk College of Further & Higher Education | 76,183 | 252.7 | 301.5 | 74,040 | 219.2 | 337.8 | 68,936 | 210.8 | 327.0 |
Fife College of Further and Higher Education | 65,678 | 248.6 | 264.2 | 62,329 | 205.8 | 302.9 | 55,158 | 194.7 | 283.3 |
Glasgow College of Building and Printing | 51,727 | 162.1 | 319.1 | 51,310 | 164.6 | 311.7 | 52,571 | 161.6 | 325.4 |
Glasgow College of Food Technology | 25,615 | 68.8 | 372.1 | 24,107 | 80.1 | 301.1 | 25,100 | 87.8 | 285.8 |
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies | 34,935 | 122.9 | 284.4 | 32,637 | 119.7 | 272.6 | 34,574 | 147.0 | 235.3 |
Glenrothes College | 43,121 | 152.5 | 282.7 | 40,750 | 156.4 | 260.6 | 39,537 | 166.7 | 237.1 |
Inverness College | 49,198 | 165.9 | 296.5 | 49,824 | 161.0 | 309.4 | 44,005 | 173.3 | 254.0 |
James Watt College of Further & Higher Education | 100,634 | 248.3 | 405.4 | 92,891 | 240.1 | 386.9 | 84,128 | 261.1 | 322.2 |
Jewel & Esk Valley College | 56,780 | 175.2 | 324.1 | 57,500 | 170.9 | 336.4 | 54,383 | 184.4 | 294.9 |
John Wheatley College | 26,913 | 84.0 | 320.3 | 26,680 | 82.8 | 322.1 | 25,957 | 87.4 | 296.9 |
Kilmarnock College | 44,811 | 159.7 | 280.6 | 46,343 | 150.0 | 309.0 | 42,325 | 154.0 | 274.8 |
Langside College | 43,974 | 182.3 | 241.2 | 53,769 | 206.1 | 260.9 | 46,666 | 197.6 | 236.1 |
Lauder College | 45,071 | 139.1 | 324.0 | 46,568 | 150.7 | 309.1 | 44,655 | 160.0 | 279.1 |
Lews Castle College | 12,432 | 58.0 | 214.3 | 13,116 | 53.5 | 245.1 | 11,092 | 55.8 | 198.9 |
Moray College | 35,622 | 89.6 | 397.6 | 37,604 | 93.9 | 400.4 | 33,118 | 106.4 | 311.1 |
Motherwell College | 67,217 | 197.3 | 340.6 | 65,145 | 197.5 | 329.8 | 62,430 | 248.9 | 250.8 |
North Glasgow College | 39,489 | 141.8 | 278.5 | 39,769 | 155.0 | 256.6 | 36,393 | 156.4 | 232.7 |
Oatridge Agricultural College | 12,379 | 42.9 | 288.6 | 11,814 | 40.1 | 294.8 | 11,954 | 43.4 | 275.4 |
Perth College | 46,245 | 158.1 | 292.5 | 41,877 | 138.8 | 301.8 | 39,337 | 150.2 | 261.8 |
Reid Kerr College | 65,962 | 222.1 | 297.0 | 66,107 | 236.7 | 279.3 | 61,251 | 267.5 | 229.0 |
Stevenson College | 76,909 | 280.1 | 274.6 | 73,950 | 284.7 | 259.8 | 83,965 | 297.9 | 281.8 |
Stow College | 49,772 | 128.2 | 388.2 | 52,203 | 127.5 | 409.4 | 35,406 | 127.6 | 277.6 |
Edinburgh's Telford College | 104,469 | 314.0 | 332.7 | 104,087 | 196.0 | 531.1 | 105,476 | 372.7 | 283.0 |
The North Highland College** | 19,791 | 68.4 | 289.2 | 20,797 | 67.0 | 310.2 | 19,655 | 72.7 | 270.4 |
West Lothian College | 30,245 | 115.7 | 261.3 | 32,351 | 129.7 | 249.4 | 32,216 | 132.0 | 244.0 |
Name of Establishment | 1995-96 | 1994-95 |
| Weighted SUMs | FTE Teaching | WS/ FTE | Weighted SUMs | FTE Teaching | WS/ FTE |
Aberdeen College | 107,004 | 358.8 | 298.2 | 100,486 | 382.1 | 263.0 |
Angus College | 24,794 | 85.5 | 290.0 | 23,659 | 89.7 | 263.8 |
Anniesland College | 33,706 | 130.5 | 258.3 | 30,375 | 131.2 | 231.5 |
Ayr College | 33,629 | 133.1 | 252.7 | 28,979 | 146.5 | 197.8 |
Banff & Buchan College of Further Education | 25,993 | 91.8 | 283.1 | 23,124 | 84.1 | 275.0 |
The Barony College | 5,983 | 25.6 | 233.7 | 6,924 | 25.8 | 268.4 |
Bell College of Technology | 27,920 | 165.6 | 168.6 | 30,215 | 167.8 | 180.1 |
Borders College | 28,377 | 105.3 | 269.5 | 24,377 | 92.2 | 264.4 |
South Lanarkshire College* | 29,996 | 135.2 | 221.9 | 26,712 | 138.7 | 192.6 |
Cardonald College | 48,811 | 238.5 | 204.7 | 45,443 | 223.3 | 203.5 |
Central College of Commerce | 35,671 | 141.1 | 252.8 | 33,342 | 134.6 | 247.7 |
Clackmannan College of Further Education | 15,134 | 64.5 | 234.6 | 14,383 | 69.7 | 206.4 |
Clydebank College | 44,544 | 226.7 | 196.5 | 43,214 | 225.4 | 191.7 |
Coatbridge College | 26,002 | 108.9 | 238.8 | 22,040 | 117.7 | 187.3 |
Cumbernauld College | 19,890 | 83.2 | 239.1 | 17,845 | 77.4 | 230.6 |
Dumfries & Galloway College | 34,752 | 142.8 | 243.4 | 31,598 | 148.3 | 213.1 |
Dundee College | 67,589 | 283.2 | 238.7 | 64,738 | 297.1 | 217.9 |
Elmwood College | 19,315 | 76.6 | 252.2 | 19,878 | 71.7 | 277.2 |
Falkirk College of Further & Higher Education | 53,856 | 216.7 | 248.5 | 51,550 | 230.0 | 224.1 |
Fife College of Further and Higher Education | 46,167 | 220.8 | 209.1 | 46,219 | 218.2 | 211.8 |
Glasgow College of Building and Printing | 47,189 | 161.9 | 291.5 | 39,125 | 159.4 | 245.5 |
Glasgow College of Food Technology | 21,789 | 89.1 | 244.5 | 20,152 | 95.4 | 211.2 |
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies | 28,186 | 125.5 | 224.6 | 21,306 | 119.8 | 177.8 |
Glenrothes College | 35,055 | 160.2 | 218.8 | 29,870 | 159.0 | 187.9 |
Inverness College | 38,949 | 185 | 210.5 | 37,285 | 209.7 | 177.8 |
James Watt College of Further & Higher Education | 71,720 | 247 | 290.4 | 63,987 | 265.0 | 241.5 |
Jewel & Esk Valley College | 48,632 | 187.8 | 259.0 | 40,647 | 202.2 | 201.0 |
John Wheatley College | 23,895 | 88.3 | 270.6 | 22,148 | 82.4 | 268.8 |
Kilmarnock College | 38,629 | 146.7 | 263.3 | 32,913 | 143.5 | 229.4 |
Langside College | 45,973 | 191.2 | 240.4 | 41,597 | 186.6 | 222.9 |
Lauder College | 39,788 | 152.8 | 260.4 | 38,619 | 152.2 | 253.7 |
Lews Castle College | 10,086 | 56 | 180.1 | 10,714 | 59.4 | 180.4 |
Moray College | 31,747 | 106.9 | 297.0 | 29,583 | 106.1 | 278.8 |
Motherwell College | 60,311 | 249.4 | 241.8 | 53,567 | 226.2 | 236.8 |
North Glasgow College | 35,614 | 155.9 | 228.4 | 36,485 | 178.9 | 203.9 |
Oatridge Agricultural College | 10,850 | 41.4 | 262.1 | 9,683 | 42.0 | 230.5 |
Perth College | 37,299 | 145.5 | 256.4 | 39,341 | 167.6 | 234.7 |
Reid Kerr College | 59,470 | 269 | 221.1 | 57,779 | 246.0 | 234.9 |
Stevenson College | 79,869 | 305.2 | 261.7 | 62,351 | 326.9 | 190.7 |
Stow College | 34,832 | 119.1 | 292.5 | 31,999 | 135.6 | 236.0 |
Edinburgh's Telford College | 94,969 | 383.7 | 247.5 | 84,770 | 356.6 | 237.7 |
The North Highland College** | 15,755 | 67 | 235.1 | 13,862 | 68.1 | 203.6 |
West Lothian College | 27,300 | 130.1 | 209.8 | 25,485 | 143.2 | 178.0 |
Sources: Weighted SUMs - Further Education in Scotland - 1994,1995,1996,1997, 1998 and 1999
Full-Time Equivalent: Teaching Staff - Annual Statistical staffing returns (1994-95 to the Scottish Office, 1998-99 to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council)
Notes:
1. * South Lanarkshire College was formerly known as Cambuslang College (up until 1 March 1999).
2. ** The North Highland College was formerly known as Thurso College (up until 1 December 1999).
3. FE colleges employ many part-time staff. In order for meaningful comparisons to be made, it has been necessary to express these as numbers of Full-time Equivalents (FTE). Similarly, the FTE is shown of staff employed for only part of a year.4. From 1997-98 onwards, "teaching staff" is defined as staff involved in direct provision of teaching for at least 10% of their contracted time. Prior to this, the terminology used was "academic staff". This included teaching staff and managerial staff with a direct responsibility for the quality of teaching (e.g. Principal, Director, Head of Department).
5. This table does not include figures for Shetland College of Education, Orkney College and Sabhal Mor Ostaig which are local authority run (not incorporated).
6. A staffing return covering the academic year as a whole was introduced only in 1994-95. Prior to this time, "snapshot" staff numbers only were collected in the last week of October. Therefore, figures for 1993-94 are not directly comparable with the figures from 1994-95 onwards. For this reason, 1993-94 figures are not included in this table.
7. The "Weighted SUMs per number of FTE teaching staff" ratio does not take account of staff costs. A table of "Staff Costs per WSUM", as an indicator of college "performance", has been published each year since 1993 in the appendices to the series of annual reports by the Secretary of State for Scotland entitled "Further Education in Scotland". These are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
8. A recent study into managing costs within FE colleges (including an examination of strategies for managing staff costs) was undertaken by the National Audit Office, the results of which were published in its report: "Scottish Further Education Colleges: Managing Costs" (17 June 1999 HC 493). This report is also available in SPICe.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the planned improvements to the A95 between Granish and Keith will cost in total and how much the (a) A95 Cromdale scheme, (b) A95 Kinveachy scheme, (c) lay-by provisions, (d) A95 Advie Bridge scheme and (e) A95 Gaich to Craggan scheme will cost (i) in total and (ii) in each of the next four financial years.
Answer
The planned improvements to the A95 trunk road between Granish and Keith will cost £435,000 this financial year and £425,000 next financial year, making a total of £860,000.
The scheme specific costs are as follows:
Scheme Specific Details | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | Total |
(a) Cromdale Phase II | £0 | £150,000 | £150,000 |
(b) Kinveachy Junction | £345,000 | £0 | £345,000 |
(c) Lay-by Provision | £0 | £25,000 | £25,000 |
(d) Advie Bridge | £90,000 | £250,000 | £340,000 |
(e) Gaich to Craggan | £0 | £0 | £0 |
Total | £435,000 | £425,000 | £860,000 |
There is no planned expenditure for these schemes in years 2002-03 and 2003-04.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary and secondary teachers (a) of Gaelic and (b) through the medium of Gaelic there are in each local authority area and how many additional teachers will be required in each category in each local authority area over the next 10 years.
Answer
In September 1998 there were an estimated 195 full-time equivalent secondary school teachers who regarded Gaelic as their main subject qualification. Primary school teachers are not categorised by subject.
The Leirsinn survey, The Availability of Gaelic-speaking Teachers (summer 1997) found that in 1997 there were 101 primary school teachers in Gaelic-medium education, 25 secondary school teachers, and 38 supply teachers (21 primary and 17 secondary).
No estimates of requirements for teachers of Gaelic have been made centrally. Education authorities have estimated the numbers of additional teachers, including replacements, for Gaelic-medium education required over the next seven years. These estimates amount to:
Primary 150
Secondary 70
Two thirds of the notified demand was from the Highland Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the number of Gaelic teachers by 140 over a seven year period and what has been the outcome of any such steps to date.
Answer
The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) is responsible for setting student intake levels to courses of initial teacher education (ITE). Each year the Executive provides guidance to SHEFC on ITE, setting out our strategic objectives for teacher education and supply. We have indicated to SHEFC that the supply of teachers able to teach in Gaelic medium education is a priority and have asked SHEFC to assist in promoting provision in this area. To help SHEFC consider how the need for Gaelic medium teachers might be met, the Executive has asked local authorities to identify their requirements. Last year authorities indicated a need for around 150 newly trained teachers for primary Gaelic medium over the next seven years and around 70 for secondary Gaelic medium over the same period. We are at the moment collecting updated information from authorities about their requirements in order that this can be provided in guidance to SHEFC for session 2001-02. It will be for SHEFC to consider how these future requirements for newly trained teachers can be met.
Comunn na Gaidhlig with funding from the Executive is conducting a publicity campaign, including leaflets, a video and a Gaelic careers conference, to attract potential recruits into Gaelic medium teaching; it has also discussed with the Teacher Education Institutions their admissions policies.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost is of the works to the A95 trunk road through Cromdale to improve drainage footways, kerbing, road lighting and the road alignment at the bridge, together with traffic calming and village gateways scheduled for the next three years, what consultation has been or will be carried out in connection with the detail of this work and within what timescale each part of the work will be completed.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has invested approximately £149,000 as part of Phase 1 of the improvement works on the A95 trunk road within Cromdale. These works were completed in 1999. Phase 2 of the improvement works will provide additional footways and new street lighting at an estimated cost of £150,000. These works will be progressed within financial year 2001-02. In addition, a refurbishment or replacement scheme for the footbridge in this area is currently under consideration. The estimated costs involved are £23,000 and £32,000 respectively. The total estimated investment for all these works is £331,000.
The Cromdale Community Council was consulted regarding Phase 1 of the improvement works within Cromdale. They will also be consulted at the appropriate time regarding Phase 2 of these works.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage any of its staff who wish to attend courses at Sabhal Mor Ostaig to do so and whether it will fund the cost of such attendance where such attendance is of assistance or benefit to such staff in the performance of their duties.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises that lifelong learning, including higher and further education, can play an important part in developing the knowledge, skills and competencies of staff and will assist members of staff, within available resources, to undertake studies and courses that will benefit their career and personal development and contribute to the effectiveness of their performance. Any applications for assistance with funding of courses at Sabhal Mor Ostaig would be considered on that basis.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Sabhal Mor Ostaig will be registered as a training provider for the purpose of Individual Learning Accounts.
Answer
It is for each learning provider to make their own decision about whether to register as a provider for the purpose of Individual Learning Accounts.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of an earlier study on the replacement of the Advie Bridge on the A95 will be completed this year, when it is anticipated that the design and construction of a scheme to replace the bridge can proceed to implementation and when any such scheme will be completed.
Answer
Following completion of the review of earlier studies, it was decided that upgrading of the existing bridge represented the most practicable and cost-effective solution. This work is being undertaken in two phases; the first, to strengthen the bridge to meet current loading requirements was completed recently. The second phase, currently under design, involves widening the bridge to enable it to carry two lanes of traffic and the removal of the traffic signals, and will be carried out next financial year depending on the availability of funding.