- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has to give more control of schools to head teachers.
Answer
Devolving a greater degree of control to head teachers is something that I am keen to support. I will soon be making an announcement for plans on this matter.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to NHS boards with regard to emergency services for hearing aid repair.
Answer
The Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Service was published in April 2009. It makes clear that NHS boards should provide effective ongoing life time maintenance of hearing aids. In particular it states that all hearing aid repairs should be carried out within two days of the repair service receiving the hearing aid.
To assist NHS boards to measure their progress towards meeting the quality standards for the adult hearing rehabilitation service an Improvement Quality and Outcomes in Adult Audiology Rehabilitation service through Critical Evaluation “ a Quality Rating Tool for Audiology Service was also issued in April 2009.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to see an emergency hearing aid repair specialist, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
The information requested is not available centrally.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 22 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and UCAS over the status of the Scottish Baccalaureate compared with other qualifications when it comes to university entrance.
Answer
The Scottish Government has regular discussions with UCAS about national qualifications including the Scottish Baccalaureates. In addition, the Scottish Government is represented on the UCAS Scottish Qualifications Progression Group which provides a forum for university admissions staff to discuss new national qualifications and the implications for university recruitment and admission policies.
We are pleased that the value of the Baccalaureate has been recognised through the UCAS points tariff and inclusion in university prospectuses.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 22 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in offering the Scottish Baccalaureate in arts and social sciences.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is currently conducting a scoping exercise which is considering both the potential to broaden the current Scottish Baccalaureates in sciences and languages to incorporate other related subjects and whether Baccalaureates in other subject areas should be developed. It is expected that decisions on these issues will be announced in the New Year.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 22 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many university places for 2010-11 were made conditional to success in the Scottish Baccalaureate in the May 2010 SQA diet of examinations.
Answer
Four applicants received offers of university entry in 2010 conditional on achieving a Scottish Baccalaureate qualification in 2009-10.
A number of universities are now including Scottish Baccalaureates as an entry route in their prospectuses, for example in enabling advanced standing for entry to the second year of university or to an accelerated three-year honours degree.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 17 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to establish how many parents of nursery-age children are content with the nursery placements that their children have received since 2007.
Answer
All nurseries which offer both funded pre-school education and care are subject to integrated inspections by HMIE and Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. These inspections include seeking the views of parents on the quality and levels of satisfaction with their local services.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 17 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations have taken place between it and local authorities regarding the allocation of grant aided expenditure to the provision of places in partnership nurseries.
Answer
No specific consultations have taken place between the Scottish Government and local authorities regarding the allocation of grant aided expenditure to the provision of places in partnership nurseries. Funding decisions on the provision of local nursery services are for local authorities.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 17 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to ensure that local authorities adhere to the guidelines set out on the Scottish Executive’s website regarding the operation of nursery partnerships.
Answer
The Scottish Government guidance on commissioning pre-school education partners is advisory and we do not monitor local implementation. It is for local authorities to decide how best to meet local needs and circumstances, including commissioning services from partner providers.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 August 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 10 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider asking Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL) to accept Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council’s proposal to underground the Beauly to Denny power line in the vicinity of Muthill.
Answer
I granted consent for an overhead line in the Muthill area following full and careful consideration of all the objections and representations received, the evidence produced to and submissions made at the inquiry and the inquiry report. The reporter''s report concluded that alternative routeing and/or undergrounding a section or sections of the proposed line in the Perth and Kinross area has not been justified (para 9.5.17, Vol 4).
