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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-24888

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by local authority of the figures set out in the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Report dated June 2019.

Question reference: S5W-24895

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Report dated June 2019, what proportion of the eligible two-year-old population the 8,707 children that are forecast to take up more than 600 hours of funded ELC represents.

We estimate the eligible population to be around 14,000 children each year, based on population projections published by NRS and the eligibility criteria for the two year old offer. The Scottish Government does not have access to the full UK Government administrative data required to have a definitive figure for the number of eligible two year olds in Scotland.

The Improvement Service report published in July 2019 showed that local authorities are currently forecasting that 8,707 two year olds will access more than 600 hours of funded ELC by April 2021 – representing around 60% of the estimated eligible population. These are forecasts based on the best available information. Uptake of the funded ELC offer for eligible 2 year olds will of course depend on parental choice.

Local authorities are working in a variety of ways to increase awareness and uptake of funded ELC by eligible 2 year olds locally, working through a range of professionals and services who come into contact with potentially eligible families. My answers to S5W-24894 and S5W-24889 describe more of the work underway national and locally to help raise awareness and uptake.

Question reference: S5W-24893

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23957 by Maree Todd on 18 July 2019, whether it will provide an update on the number of equity and excellence leads in post, and what additional action it is taking to fill any vacant posts.

We know that high quality early learning and childcare can play an important role in reducing the poverty related attainment gap. We have dedicated funding for 435 equity and excellent leads to work in all 32 local authorities with a focus on improving outcomes for children in the most deprived areas of Scotland.

Local authorities have reported that 92% of these posts have now been filled (398.5 full time equivalent posts).

Some posts have taken longer to recruit for than anticipated. This is partly because these roles can be very specialised and many local authorities have included additional criteria to ensure the most suitable, highly qualified candidates are in place to support children experiencing disadvantage.

With 92% of these posts filled, the Scottish Government is continuing to work closely with local authorities to fill the remaining 8% of posts by monitoring progress on a regular basis.

Question reference: S5W-24896

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it received the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Report dated June 2019.

Question reference: S5W-24892

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23962 by Maree Todd on 18 July 2019, what will be (a) included and (b) excluded in the initial results of the revised ELC census in 2021.

We are planning an individual child level ELC census in May 2021 with the data to be published later in the year. Data will be collected on child characteristics (such as ethnicity, age, disability and sex), and the pattern of provision for children enrolled in funded ELC. More information on the data to be collected is available on the Scottish Government website . What is included or excluded from the published information will depend on data completeness and confidence in the quality of the data received given that this will be the first year that the census will have been conducted in this manner. Any issues identified will be addressed for subsequent releases.

Question reference: S5W-24897

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a copy of all the local authority free text narratives referred to in the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Report dated June 2019.

The Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Report published in August 2019, which uses data collected by the Improvement Service from local authorities in June 2019, provides a national level overview of progress in delivering the expansion.

The Scottish Government has no plans to place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre information a breakdown of the figures or narrative provided by individual local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-24890

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23960 by Maree Todd on 18 July 2019, what training, guidance and support is available to professionals regarding the two-year-old entitlement in order to increase awareness and uptake.

Trusted professionals play a crucial role in raising awareness and uptake of funded early learning and childcare by eligible two year olds – especially where families are new to early learning and childcare.

We are working with partners with a remit around health, child poverty and parenting to raise awareness of the two year old offer amongst Health Visitors , Social Workers and other professionals who come into contact with families who may be eligible for funded ELC, for example through attending at sector events and highlighting the ELC offer in publications. Early Learning and Childcare is included as a topic that can be discussed at the Child Health Development reviews in the Universal Health Visiting Pathway. We have also created a toolkit of useful materials to help partners share information about ELC in the way that best suits their sector. This includes advice on language; FAQs; and materials for local dissemination.

We are increasing national resources and advice, so that trusted professionals can signpost families to find out more about funded ELC for 2 year olds. Our new ELC hub on Parent Club is designed for parents and carers and those working with them. We also publish and disseminate leaflets through a range of routes to reach families and trusted professionals – for example Book Bug, libraries and ELC settings.

The ELC offer and application process for eligible 2 year olds vary by individual council area, so local authorities’ information and communication about what is available locally for eligible 2 year olds and how to access the offer is very important. The Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative (CYPIC) ELC Practicum is looking at how to improve uptake and awareness in 9 local authority areas, and participants will share their learning with other local authorities later in the year. Local authority colleagues are also using the dedicated ELC Knowledge Hub space to share learning and resources.

Question reference: S5F-03545

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2019

Question to be taken in the Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-03519

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2019

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-24794

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 August 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures.