Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-04112

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that both of the privately-run nurseries in the East Neuk, in the North East Fife constituency, will close by the end of 2024.

Question reference: S6O-04005

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the impact on agriculture in Scotland, what its response is to the removal of ring-fenced agricultural support funding for devolved nations by the UK Government.

Question reference: S6W-30764

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the the undertaking given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and accepted by Ofqual on 16 August 2024, what actions the SQA took to address the impact on learners who were awarded qualifications for the resit assessments for the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification, which were subsequently withdrawn, whether the SQA put any compensatory measures in place, and how learners were informed of the situation.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. Its findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

SQA is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), established under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. As a NDPB, SQA is responsible for making its own operational decisions. I have asked the SQA to write to Mr Rennie setting out the measures taken and communications with stakeholders related to the undertaking.

Question reference: S6W-30759

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers became aware of the Ofqual review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) investigations, which resulted in the SQA's undertaking to Ofqual was accepted in August 2024, into the resit assessments for the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. Its findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

SQA made the Scottish Government aware of the issue through its regular governance channels when it first arose in 2019 and have regularly updated the Scottish Government on developments throughout the process.

SQA formally notified the Scottish Government of the final and published version of the Undertaking given by the SQA to Ofqual on 11 October 2024.

Question reference: S6W-30757

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the undertaking given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to Ofqual, which was accepted on 16 August 2024, and the non-compliances identified by Ofqual's investigation into the resit assessments for the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. It’s findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

We expect all public bodies to comply with their obligations and the Ofqual findings must be fully addressed.

SQA is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), established under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. As a NDPB, SQA is responsible for making its own operational decisions. SQA has taken forward an action plan to address the concerns raised by Ofqual and the plan will be independently audited.

The Scottish Government will be monitoring progress closely.

Question reference: S6W-30758

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Ofqual regarding the undertaking the SQA gave to Ofqual, which was accepted on 16 August 2024, following Ofqual's identification of non-compliance with its conditions into the resit assessments for the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. It’s findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

The Scottish Government meets regularly with SQA to discuss a range of matters. This has included updates on Ofqual’s investigation of SQA.

SQA is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), established under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. As a NDPB, SQA is responsible for making its own operational decisions. The undertaking by the SQA to Ofqual is a matter for Ofqual. The Scottish Government will be monitoring progress closely.

Question reference: S6W-30762

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the the undertaking given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and accepted by Ofqual on 16 August 2024, whether it is aware of what issues were identified by Ofqual regarding the SQA's failure to ensure that the content of resit assessments for the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification were fit for purpose, and if so what those issues were and how they affected the course of Ofqual's investigation.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. It’s findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

SQA have regularly updated the Scottish Government on the Ofqual review from its inception.

The investigation of the non-compliance is a matter for Ofqual. Ofqual has published its findings: Undertaking given by Scottish Qualifications Authority to Ofqual in accordance with B8 of the Conditions of Recognition - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Question reference: S6W-30756

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the the undertaking given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and accepted by Ofqual on 16 August 2024, what steps it and the SQA have taken to ensure that the issues identified by Ofqual’s investigation, similar to the resit assessments for the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification, do not occur in future.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. It’s findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

We expect all public bodies to comply with their obligations and the Ofqual findings must be fully addressed.

SQA is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), established under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. As a NDPB, SQA is responsible for making its own operational decisions. SQA has taken forward an action plan to address the concerns raised by Ofqual and the plan will be independently audited.

The Scottish Government will be monitoring progress closely.

Question reference: S6W-30763

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the the undertaking given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and accepted by Ofqual on 16 August 2024, when concerns were raised with or within the SQA regarding compliance with Ofqual's conditions of recognition and the 2024 SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification; what steps the SQA took in response, and when.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. It’s findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

SQA is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), established under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. As a NDPB, SQA is responsible for making its own operational decisions. The undertaking by the SQA to Ofqual is a matter for Ofqual. The Scottish Government will be monitoring progress closely.

Question reference: S6W-30761

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the the undertaking given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and accepted by Ofqual on 16 August 2024, whether it is aware of the concerns identified by Ofqual in January 2022 regarding the SQA's approach to investigating and dealing with with malpractice and maladministration concerns and. if so. what whose concerns were.

Ofqual regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. It’s findings relate to the SQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification delivered in England which was withdrawn by SQA in April 2019.

SQA have regularly updated the Scottish Government on the Ofqual review from its inception.

Ofqual has published its findings: Undertaking given by Scottish Qualifications Authority to Ofqual in accordance with B8 of the Conditions of Recognition - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

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