- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider providing parents with an information pack when their child turns three years old, regarding parent and child rights in relation to the school starting age.
Answer
Local authorities provide information to parents and carers about how they can register their child for early learning and childcare (ELC) and primary school. Parents and carers are encouraged to talk to their local authority to discuss their individual childcare and education needs. The Scottish Government’s Parent Club website has information about starting school and ELC, which is updated regularly. Parent Club also includes links to the individual local authority websites that provide information about how to apply for ELC: What’s your child entitled to? | Parent Club
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 29 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update, regarding the funded rate for the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years sector, on the Ipsos Scotland report on the provision of 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare.
Answer
To inform the setting of sustainable rates for August 2022, COSLA and local authorities commissioned Ipsos Mori to carry out an independent cost collection exercise. This exercise will ensure that all local authorities have access to robust data on the costs of delivering funded ELC in private, third and childminding services.
Local authorities are currently reviewing their outputs from the exercise alongside the updated guidance on setting sustainable rates published on 26 May 2022. The guidance is clear that the findings of the cost collection exercise are only a part of the rate setting process, and local authorities will also consider local ELC market conditions and ongoing consultation with providers.
The COSLA Children and Young People Board has committed to local authorities being as transparent as possible on outputs from the survey, provided the data has the appropriate level of statistical confidence and confidentiality. The Scottish Government will also collect and publish data on rates for 2022-23 in the Autumn.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the reported increase in incidences of violence in schools.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to define and promote best practice in Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) biosecurity, eradication and long-term control.
Answer
The Scottish Government and its agencies collaborate closely with their counterparts in Wales and England on the control of INNS. Scottish Government officials have played an active role with their counterparts in drafting the 2022-2030 Great Britain Invasive Non- Native Species Strategy. This key document sets out our agreed, collaborative approach to preventing invasive non-native species reaching our shores, through surveillance, early detection and rapid response provisions and long terms management and control of species already established. The provisions in the Strategy will be implemented in Scotland through the Non-native Species Action Group, and similar partnerships, which has representatives from the public and voluntary sectors.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its nursery recruitment targets.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2022
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how its housing strategy will support local authorities with developing dementia-friendly homes.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2022
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 May 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2022
To ask the First Minister what meetings the Scottish Government has had with the private and voluntary nursery sector regarding the delivery of its early learning and childcare strategy.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2022
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 9 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to undertaking a review of adoption services in Scotland.
Answer
In 2020, the Scottish Government made a promise to thousands of care experienced children and adults to Keep The Promise by 2030.
As part of this will be working with partners to review and improve adoption services across Scotland.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how self-declaration, in the context of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, may affect sex discrimination cases.
Answer
Sex discrimination cases will continue to be dealt with under the Equality Act 2010. The provisions of the 2010 Act are not modified by the proposals in the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. The Bill also does not change the legal effects of a Gender Recognition Certificate as they are currently set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when its policy on ending custodial sentences for 16- and 17-year-olds will be implemented.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2022