- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported call of the Scottish Children's Services Coalition for more investment in counselling for school pupils.
Answer
We continue to support our local authority partners with £16 million per year to ensure all secondary schools have access to school counselling services. It is for local authorities to determine how they deliver the counselling service in their area.
In December 2020, local authorities confirmed that counselling services were in place across Scotland for all school pupils aged 10 and above.
School counselling is just one a range of services in place to support children and young people’s mental health.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments of the Educational Institute of Scotland that the lack of financial support for teachers’ professional development is damaging Scottish education, in light of the announcement that funding for masters-level professional development is to be withdrawn.
Answer
The recent teacher pay deal is the largest in twenty years and was made against a challenging financial backdrop. It is in that context that we have had to review funding commitments across the programme.
We continue to value the importance of professional development for teachers as demonstrated by the range of professional learning and leadership programmes provided by Education Scotland and detailed on their website Education Scotland | Professional Learning and Leadership . In addition, we are investing £800,000 this year in the Into Headship programme to support future school leaders.
We are open to considering reinstating funding for masters-level learning for teachers should future budget provisions allow.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it will cost to make all colleges in the estate wind and water tight.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20534 on 6 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at : https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is for dyslexia screening.
Answer
Public Health Scotland (PHS) does not collect data on the waiting times patient experience for dyslexia screening.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of any of its meetings with Welsh Government officials where an educational exchange programme was discussed.
Answer
The Scottish Government has working relationships with the Welsh Government on a number of issues but does not currently publish minutes of its meetings. This is to preserve a safe space for officials to discuss a range of matters.
While there are no plans to publish minutes of meetings with Welsh Government officials where areas of mutual interest including the Scottish Education Exchange Programme have been discussed, our engagement with the Welsh Government is helping to inform our Exchange Programme test and learn project.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18501 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 June 2023, who the "key stakeholders" referenced are that it engaged with on the learning together action plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of the Learning together: national action plan on parental involvement, engagement, family learning and learning at home 2018–2021. In late 2021 a steering group was formed by the Scottish Government to inform next steps, with representation from CoSLA, Education Scotland, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority, General Teaching Council of Scotland, Connect, National Family Learning Network, National Parent Forum of Scotland, and Scottish Parental Involvement Officers Network.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18501 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 June 2023, on exactly what date it plans to publish the Learning Together Action Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently considering next steps and will update the Scottish Parliament later this year.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-20290 and S6W-20295 by Paul McLennan on 17 August 2023, at what point in the conveyancing process the local area team would be able to agree grant funding for an acquisition under the national acquisition plan.
Answer
Further to the answer to S6W-20732 on 6 September 2023, grant funding arrangements are expected to be agreed with grant applicants in advance of the conveyancing process.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-20290 and S6W-20295 by Paul McLennan on 17 August 2023, how quickly it expects area team offices to (a) handle applications and (b) agree grant funding for acquisitions under the national acquisition plan.
Answer
We already work with registered social landlords and local authorities to agree annual funding allocations to support the purchase of second-hand properties through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This streamlined approach is designed to allow these organisations to act upon opportunities as they arise.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to grow Scotland’s economy through the tech sector, for what reason it reportedly did not provide CodeClan with support.
Answer
Codeclan was a private sector enterprise and its financial stability was the sole responsibility of its management and board of directors.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise worked intensively with CodeClan to explore every possible option to secure a sustainable future, including commissioning the support of private sector consultants.
Ministers are legally bound by subsidy control rules which set clear thresholds on the level of public funding that can be injected into private businesses. In this case the sum required to place the business on a stable footing significantly exceeded these thresholds, with no guarantee of future viability.