- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2019
Question to be taken in the Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2019
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2019
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2019
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 August 2019
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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.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23526 by Joe FitzPatrick on 12 June 2019, what the evidence basis is for the three-month tolerance.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23977 on 19 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23526 by Joe FitzPatrick on 12 June 2019, when the three-month tolerance was introduced, and how long it expects it to be in place for.
Answer
Breast screening is delivered in line with expert advice from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC and Healthcare Improvement Scotland have set performance thresholds for breast screening invitation, and uptake and recall rates to reduce breast cancer mortality and ensure breast screening takes place in a timely manner. NHS boards are responsible for implementing the breast screening standards within their board area and should ensure that at least 90% of all eligible women are invited for screening at 36-month intervals following their first invitation, in line with the NHS Breast Screening Programme consolidated standards.
National Services Division, who commission and performance manage the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) advise that the 12 week tolerance is a mechanism they have developed within the SBSP since the 1990’s in recognition for the need to allow women flexibility in attending screening appointments and account for any unanticipated events e.g extreme weather conditions.
Existing breast screening clinical standards for the provision of 3 yearly screening invitations, appointments and results at all points on the pathway must be adhered to. Delay is monitored locally and reported monthly to National Services Division who commission and manage the programme. Where delays are significant, screening centres are required to submit a robust action plan detailing the initiatives and timescales to reduce delays.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 17 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23526 by Joe FitzPatrick on 12 June 2019, what assurances it can provide that, when NHS boards are running behind the three-month tolerance period, women who will have gone above the screening age during this time will continue to be invited for screening.
Answer
As recommended by the UK National Screening Committee, the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) invites women who are aged between 50 and 70 years, for breast screening in a 3 year cycle. The SBSP uses a national IT system to manage the call and recall of women for breast screening. The IT system includes a safeguard report which identifies any woman reaching her 71st birthday that has not been invited for their final screening and automatically generates an invitation letter to the woman.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 27 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23630 by Derek Mackay on 18 June 2019, whether it has asked the Scottish Fiscal Commission to (a) advise on the spillover effect and (b) compare the spillover effect with the likely compensating change to the Block Grant Adjustment.
Answer
To date, no such advice has been requested from the Scottish Fiscal Commission. In the event of a formal dispute over an issue such as a direct or behavioural spillover, the Fiscal Framework Agreement requires both Governments to draw up a statement of fact on the dispute, and may seek technical input from the Scottish Fiscal Commission and Office of Budget Responsibility in doing so.
